Victoria Parks & Gardens
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide to Parks & Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia.
Located 20 minutes away from downtown Victoria, the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific is dedicated to promoting efficient gardening practices to visitors and students. This centre features teaching gardens, wetlands and rare native plants.
Located 16km from downtown Victoria, Goldstream Provincial Park is filled with scenic wonders and energetic wildlife. See waterfalls and abandoned gold mine shafts while hiking the park. A multitude of picnic spots exist, making Goldstream an excellent day excursion. There are also 163 campsites for overnight guests.
Beacon Hill Park is a 183-acre park that occupies a good portion of downtown Victoria. Owned by the city since 1882, it is flanked by major roads Cook Street, Dallas Road and Douglas Street. There are many features here including gardens, a petting zoo, concert shell and cricket grounds. Visitors can spend hours walking around or lounging on the grass enjoying a picnic. Many events also take place within the park throughout the summer.
One of the largest butterfly conservatories in Canada with over 1,000 square meters of garden. Observe beautiful butterflies, luscious gardens, and birds. The Gardens import, breed and release butterflies back into their environments.
Glendale Gardens are situated just north of Victoria on 103 acres of government leased land. The park includes a conservation park, facilities for private and community events and 6 acres of spectacular gardens showcasing over 10,000 varieties of plants. Designed to demonstrate landscaping and gardening techniques suitable for the Pacific Northwest, the gardens take one more step towards a sustainable world.
Featuring 55 acres of floral finery and spectacular views along the paths and expansive lawns, the Butchart Gardens are a Victoria landmark and as of 2004, a National Historic Site of Canada. In 1904, the Butchart Gardens began as an effort by Jennie Butchart to beautify a worked-out quarry site on the 130-acre estate of her husband, industrial pioneer R.P. Butchart. The gardens are now open to the public and are one of Victoria's most popular attractions.
Located on the University of Victoria campus, these expansive gardens exemplify the natural beauty of Vancouver Island. In April and May visitors can see one of Canada's largest displays of rhododendrons in full bloom, as well as three ponds and more than 4,000 different tree and shrub species.
Abkhazi Garden is an exquisite heritage garden which was created in the late 1940's by Prince and Princess Nicholas Abkhazi. The garden, gift shop and tea room is open from March 1st to September 30th, Daily from 11am to 5pm. $10.00 for adults,$7.50 for students and seniors. Guided group tours can also be arranged in advance.
The Government House is the official residence for the Lieutenant Governor of BC. This garden has an impressive array of gardens with themes such as: English Country, Winter, British Columbia Native Plant, Herb, Rose and Rhododendron. The gardens are in full bloom from May through September. Guided tours are available upon request.
Located in the district of Saanich, this urban oasis features two distinctive ecosystems at the ready for exploration, including the marshes of Swan Lake and the oak meadows of Christmas Hill. Extensive walking trails, bird watching opportunities and ongoing educational programming are highlights.
Elk / Beaver Lake Regional Park
With sandy beaches and bright blue lakes, this is one of the most widely used parks in the area. The lakes can be used for swimming, waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing, fishing and rowing. The park's many trails are designated for activities such as hiking, cycling and horseback riding.
Gowlland Tod Provincial Park
This park is a base for many recreational opportunities including hiking, wildlife viewing and picnicking. There are 25 km (15 mi) of hiking trails for all skill-levels, and the park is located in a protected and biodiverse area. Scuba divers from around the world come to nearby Tod Inlet because of the marine life it holds.
Mount Tolmie Park
Located in Saanich near the University of Victoria campus, Mount Tolmie shows off both the city's natural beauty and spectacular scenery. Those who prefer a smooth path can walk the road to the top of the mount, while those more daring can take the steep slope to the top. Once at the summit hikers are rewarded with 360 degree views of Victoria, the Gulf Islands, and the Coastal Mountains.
Topaz Park
Green spaces and sporting fields are the highlights of this urban park, located on the corner of Blanshard and Finlyason. Numerous community events are held here year-round.
Lone Tree Hill Regional Park
Those who make the 30 minute hike to the summit of Lone Hill will be rewarded with views of Victoria, Mt. Baker and the Olympic Mountains. The park is covered in wildflowers as well as Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and Arbutus trees.
Spectacle Lake Provincial Park
The freshwater Spectacle Lake can be used for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing, as well as skating in the winter. The park has a 2km (1.2mi) hiking trail, and a day-use picnic area with pit toilets and a water pump.
Devonian Regional Park
Guests can visit the cobble beach on Parry Bay and view Juan de Fuca Strait, or hike the forest trails. The park is a wilderness sanctuary that sits amoung the farmlands of Metchosin and has picnic tables, toilets and an information kiosk.
Mount Douglas Park
A park with parking and picnic facilities as well as trails that lead to the beach along Cordova Bay and up Mount Douglas. Those who climb to the summit will be rewarded with views of Victoria, Saanich, and the Cascade and Olympic mountains.
Thunderbird Park
Thunderbird Park draws visitors for its impressive display of totem poles. This large-scale collection of Kwakwaka'wakw art is a popular downtown attraction. During summer First Nations artists can be observed carving and painting totem poles here.
Cadboro Gyro Park
Cadboro Gyro Park is a 5.3 ha beach park. This family friendly recreation area has public washrooms, picnic tables, playing courts, and plenty of green space and playing fields ideal for sports. Other activities including swimming and boating.
Race Rocks Marine Protected Area
This area was designated an eco reserve in 1980 to protect, the whales, otters, sea lions, seals, birds and various underwater marine life that exists here. Fishing is prohibited but the area is a good site for diving. Access is by boat only and those interested in the area can visit with one of the eco tour groups that operate out of Sooke and Victoria.
Gonzales Hill Regional Park
This 2 ha park contains Gonzales Observatory, a heritage building built in 1914 that was formerly used as a weather station. The Juan de Fuca Strait and Washington States' Olympic Mountains can be viewed from the observatory.
Convenient Location
Blue Ridge Inn Victoria
An inn and vacation cottage ideally located across from Mayfair Shopping Mall!
