Trip 297 - September 1, 2023 (Friday)

Butchart Gardens Visit

Near Victoria, BC

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Butchart Gardens Location: Vancouver Island, Saanich Peninsula, about 20 km North of the city of Victoria, and 20 km South of Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

Liked: Excellent landscaping, fantastic plants and flowers, the smell of “Perfume Factory” roses in Rose Garden, interesting sculptures and fountains, wonderful gift shop, free parking.

Of Note: Limited shade, the gardens are very popular – would likely be packed on Summer weekends.

Vancouver Island, Victoria & Gulf Islands Backroad Mapbook (9th edition) Coordinates: Page 4 (Sooke) F1.

Related Website: Butchart Gardens - Official Website.

A visit to a much smaller (and now closed) similar Gardens near Chilliwack: Trip 039 - Minter Gardens.

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Butchart Gardens is a huge well-landscaped area full of wonderful flowers, trees, plants, and fountains. Plus, there is an impressive gift shop. And a carousel. And an occasional concert. And fireworks. It's a great place to walk around for about 1.5 hours (regular pace) and give your camera a good workout, as there are numerous photo opportunities all over. The fame of Butchart Gardens attracts hordes of visitors, so try to visit on a weekday to avoid the (over)crowded conditions. It also makes sense to come on a sunny day to truly appreciate the beauty of this place.

1. Here is a Google Maps location of Butchart Gardens.

2. We are approaching the vehicle entrance to Butchart Gardens.

Butchart Gardens Vehicle Entrance

3. The sign on the booth asks violent, foul mouthed, threatening, and abusive people to behave themselves.

Butchart Gardens inappropriate behaviour warning

4. A very large parking lot is next. Parking is free. You can also get to Butchart Gardens by taking a transit bus.

Butchart Gardens parking lot

5. An info stand at the end of the parking lot closest to the gardens.

Butchart Gardens information stand

6. A map of Butchart Gardens at the info stand.

Butchart Gardens map

7. The ticket booth follows.

Butchart Gardens ticket booth

8. You then go through a turnstile by the ticket booth and enter Butchart Gardens.

Butchart Gardens exhibit entrance

9. The usual way to explore the gardens is by doing a clockwise loop, which starts just past the sign seen in the photo above. So, as shown in the photo below, take a path to the left, and you would eventually come back via a path on the right.