Victoria Parks and Gardens

(Victoria, British Columbia - BC, Canada)

Spread around the Victoria area are some very appealing parks and charming landscaped garden, which very greatly in size and structure. With a very intimate and personal feeling, the beauty of the Abkhazi Gardens is quite undeniable, while Victoria's Beacon Hill Park is quite vast in comparison and features superb views across the Olympic Mountains

Now one of the leading visitor attractions in Victoria, the Butchart Gardens are not to be missed, particularly on Saturday nights, when firework displays draw large crowds and are always accompanied by music. On a rainy day, the Crystal Garden Conservation Centre is a good indoor option, being known for its tropical flowers and huge butterflies.

Butchart Gardens

Address: 800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay, V8X 3X4, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 250 652 4422
An immense attraction led by a dedicated team of over 50 different gardeners, the Butchart Gardens truly do offer something for all ages. Children particularly enjoy the colourful totem poles, the Ross Fountain pond, the open lawns, the summer entertainment in the Waterwheel Square, and the fun treasure hunt for ceramic bunnies. The Butchart Gardens are located just over 20 km / 12 miles to the north-west of Victoria and cover around 50 acres / 20 hectares, being best explored in mid-afternoon, when the crowds have thinned.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to late, hours vary according to season
Admission: charge, discounts for children, children five years old and under are free

Abkhazi Gardens

Address: 1964 Fairfield Road, Oak Bay, Victoria, V8S 1H4, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 250 598 8096
The Abkhazi Gardens truly are steeped in romance and history, being created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi over a period of 40 years, with work beginning soon after the wealthy couple arrived in Victoria in the mid-1940s. Whilst the garden is relatively small and approximately just one acre in size, it is packed with beautiful plants and seasonal colour. Highlights include a Rhododendron Woodland, manicured lawns, a modern Summerhouse, sloping rock gardens, naturalistic ponds, heather hedges, terraced areas, a notable restaurant serving light lunches and afternoon teas, and vistas overlooking the impressive Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Open hours: March to September, daily - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors, students and children, children 12 years old and under are free

Beacon Hill Park

Address: 311 Vancouver Street, Victoria, V8V 3T2, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 250 361 0600
Named after the two important beacons of Mount Beacon itself, Beacon Hill Park dates back some 150 years and is today both owned and managed by the city of Victoria. Beacon Hill is edged by both Douglas Street and Dallas Road, with its southerly side enjoying a scenic waterfront location. Covering some 200 acres / 81 hectares, Beacon Hill Park features a series of beautifully landscaped gardens, with Alpine themes, lakes, bridges, peacocks and plenty of native waterfowl. Families will enjoy visiting the Beacon Hill Children's Farm, a petting zoo with friendly animals, open between February and early September each year.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Crystal Garden Conservation Centre

Address: 713 Douglas Street, Victoria, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 250 381 1213
Always popular, the Crystal Garden Conservation Centre is a heated indoor garden attraction, with a collection of bright flowers and tropical plants, along with many large, free-flying butterflies and exotic small birds. The building itself dates back to 1925 and was actually modelled upon London's world-famous Crystal Palace, being completely renovated during the early part of the 1980s. Families will always enjoy a visit to the Crystal Garden Conservation Centre, particularly on a day when the weather is a little inclement.
Open hours: daily, July and August - 08:30 to 20:00, reduced opening hours for other months
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park

Address: Fort Rodd Hill Road, Victoria, British Columbia (BC), Canada, CA
Tel: +1 250 478 5849
The Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Park is an extremely scenic spot and is around 45 acres / 18 hectares in size. Sited off the Ocean Boulevard and around just 12 km / 7 miles to the north-west of the city centre, Fort Rodd Hill dates from the late 19th century, when it was built in order to protect the Esquimalt Harbour. Visitors will enjoy the self-guided trails, and the walk along the causeway leading to the Fisgard Lighthouse, which has been in continuous use for some 150 years and contains a small, but interesting museum.
Open hours: daily - hours vary
Admission: charge, discounts for children