5 Gardens Around Victoria to Visit With the Whole Family

Summer on Vancouver Island is when these gorgeous gardens proudly show off. With fabulous floral displays and lush greenery during B.C.’s long, dreamy days, here are five botanical gardens in the Victoria area for the whole family to enjoy now and throughout the year. 

1. The Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens has visitors from around the world delighted to be spending time in what is known as one of the most impressive botanical gardens in B.C. For 121 years, this national historic site, situated in Brentwood Bay on Vancouver Island, has hosted garden enthusiasts eager to stroll across 55 acres for horticultural inspiration. Open year-round, the garden flows with the seasons with a rotation of floral and botanical displays in each of the green spaces. Jennie Butchart was the visionary who started it all, and The Butchart Gardens is still owned and operated by her family. Stop onsite at the Seeds & Gifts store for souvenirs and an ice cream at the Gelateria.

2. Victoria Butterfly Gardens

The Victoria Butterfly Gardens , also in Brentwood Bay, is an indoor garden with over 12,000 square feet of space to explore. Perfect for a rainy day visit, immerse yourself in a tropical garden of exotic plants, flowers and fruits from around the globe. 70 species of butterflies flutter about, and any visitor can expect to see tortoises, iguana, koi fish, flamingos and other tropical birds. You might also spot poison dart frogs—but don’t worry, they’re no longer poisonous here. Open year-round, the garden offers an annual pass too, plus a fun scavenger hunt that families will surely want to get in on. 

3. Abkhazi Garden

Abkhazi Garden is the result of a vision in 1946 by Prince and Princess Abkhazi, who wanted to create a spectacular garden at their Victoria heritage home. Hidden from the street, this dramatic outdoor space is well worth visiting. Garry oak trees, Japanese maples and huge rhododendrons weave around artfully placed rockery and abundant florals. The Abkhazi royal couple passed 25 years ago, however the Land Conservancy of B.C. purchased the property to save it from becoming a housing development. Be sure and visit the tearoom, stopping for a restorative cup and opportunity to take in this gorgeous garden. 

4. The Gardens at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific

The Gardens at HCP (Horticulture Centre of the Pacific) is known as the “gardeners’ garden.” Since 1979, it has been an essential stop on the island, just 12 kilometres from downtown Victoria. The designated kids garden with programming for little ones also makes it a welcoming spot for families. The gardens sprawl over nine acres on a 103-acre site in Saanich, complete with nature trails and bird watching sites. Visit the Japanese Takata garden, the Zen garden, the vegetable and rhododendron gardens and appreciate how much the Pacific Northwest has to offer when it comes to what grows so plentifully here. In August, check out the Gardens’ annual Arts & Music Festival, now in its 31st year, with support of local artists, vendors and live music.  

5. Beacon Hill Park

A whopping 200 acres in size, the gardens at Beacon Hill are impressive, with manicured flower beds, forests, ponds and green lawns that meander throughout this historical, downtown Victoria park. The rose garden is especially charming in the summer months when in full bloom. It’s worth spending some time in to, quite literally, stop and smell the roses. The Beacon Hill Children’s Farm at Beacon Hill Park has a goat stampede that takes place twice daily for kids of all ages. Plus, kids can interact with other animals like donkeys, rabbits and sheep. Free summer concerts at the Cameron Bandshell stage include the “Music in the Park” series on Friday through Monday afternoons too.