Understanding Country through Culture in Undalup (Busselton)

The Noongar people, the traditional custodians of the southwest of Western Australia, have lived in deep connection with the land—Noongar Boodja—for over 60,000 years.

Unlike the four European seasons, Noongar culture recognises six distinct seasons, marked not by calendar months, but by subtle shifts in the environment—flowering plants, animal behaviours, and weather patterns. These seasons guided the people of Wadandi Boodja – an area encompassing Undalup (Busselton) and Wooditjup (Margaret River) south to Augusta and across to Nannup. The seasons gave life’s gentle rhythm; from food gathering to fire management and ceremonies.

We recommend joining cultural custodian Josh Whiteland on one of his excellent Koomal Dreaming tours. He provided stories and knowledge to the new Ancient Lands at Ngilgi Cave, and operates there and also at Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse.

Birak (December – January) – The First Summer

The land is hot and dry in the season of the young. You’ll notice reptiles becoming more active, and young animals leaving their nests. Sea breezes offer relief from the heat—perfect for beach visits along Geographe Bay and the Margaret River coast. Grasstrees blossom – look up close and you’ll notice the tiny white flowers bloom on the north side of the flower spike first. Moodja trees are covered in vivid orange flowers, and it’s a time to celebrate the spirits of the ancestors passed.

Here at Mandalay it’s humming with school holiday excitement. The sun beats down, and families cool off in the pool or across the road at the beach. We recommend taking your snorkel to the beach and exploring the rock pools and sand patches, looking for reef fish darting around. If you’re lucky, you might see bottlenose dolphins swimming in the shallows – such a thrill!

Bunuru (February – March) – The Second Summer

This is the hottest and driest time of year. It’s a time for seafood, with mullet, skippy and herring in abundance. The Ngari (salmon) migration begins, bringing huge schools of salmon just off the beaches. Marri and eucalypts are flowering, attracting birds such as black cockatoos and parrots.

The region is a little quieter, and it’s a lovely time to visit if you enjoy warm weather for exploring. Enjoy a feed of local fish and chips after a day hiking the coastal paths or lazing at the beach.

Djeran (April – May) – The Season of Adulthood

With the weather beginning to cool, Djeran brings calm, dewy mornings and changing winds. The banksias start to flower, signalling a shift in available bush foods. In the tall forests around Wooditjup, zamia palms bear fruit. It’s also a time of ceremony and storytelling, connecting people and place.

The Ambergate Reserve, south of Busselton and about 15 minutes’ drive from Mandalay, is a lovely place to observe banksia woodland on a wildflower walk.

Makuru (June – July) – The Season of Fertility

This is the wettest and coldest season, when the country is at its most fertile. Rivers swell, animals pair up for breeding, and the landscape turns a rich green. Traditionally a time for hunting kangaroo, emu and possum. Around the bushlands of Undalup and the towering karri forests of Wooditjup, the evidence of seasonal abundance is everywhere. It is also a time to move inland and seek shelter.

Quietly stroll amongst our peppermint trees at dusk and you’ll see endangered Western Ringtail Possums – sometimes with their new babies. An official Mandalay possum count a few years ago found 130 of them – we’re glad the resort is a safe sanctuary for them!

Djilba (August – September) – The Season of Conception

This transitional season brings a mix of wet days and sunshine. Wildflowers begin to bloom across the southwest, from yellow wattles to delicate orchids. It’s a time of new life—many animals are raising their young, and the land is teeming with energy. Walking or cycling the Wadandi Track or strolling the banks of the Margaret River, you can see and hear this seasonal awakening.

Thousands of migrating humpback whales swim through Geographe Bay from August to October. You won’t see them from the relatively shallow beach opposite Mandalay, but venture out on the Busselton Jetty or walk the Meelup-Eagle Bay coastal trail to see them breaching and splashing around.

If you fancy a drive, go see the Yalgardup Waterfalls, just a few minutes from Margaret River.

Kambarang (October – November) – The Season of Birth

Kambarang is the time of abundance and birth. The warmer weather returns, and wildflowers erupt in a rainbow of colour – yellow acacia, pink pimelia and purple scavola, plus dainty and difficult-to-spot spider orchids. Reptiles reappear, joey kangaroos leave their mothers’ pouches and native bees are busy. Traditionally, Wadandi people moved back from the wetlands to the coast to fish and camp beneath melaleucas.

This is our favourite time to walk part of the Cape to Cape. If you have children with you, try the accessible stretch between Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Sugarloaf Rock which is about 5km return.

We hope you too can develop a greater appreciation and understanding of this beautiful corner of the southwest, seeing it through the seasonal lens.