The Butchart Gardens: Visit Guide, Photos, and Full Review!
Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Kelly
If you’re planning a trip to Victoria BC, you absolutely have to visit one of Vancouver Island’s crown jewels: The Butchart Gardens. The Butchart Gardens are one of the most spectacular gardens you will ever visit. With 5 distinct gardens and over 900 plant varieties, you’re sure to be impressed as you walk its many paths.
I’ve visited the Butchart Gardens several times over the years, and it’s one of my favorite things to do while in Victoria BC. In this visit guide, I’m sharing my best tips for visiting the Butchart Gardens, tons of photos, and my top recommendations!
If I had to choose my favorite areas, I would choose the Sunken Gardens (I especially loved the kiln and the Ross Fountain), the Rose Garden, and the Japanese Garden.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. We were gifted admission tickets to the Butchart Gardens in exchange for our honest review. We were provided tickets on the Gray Line for our honest review through Tourism Victoria.
About the Butchart Gardens
Essential information:
- Website: https://www.butchartgardens.com/
- Address: 800 Benvenuto Ave, Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1J8, Canada
The Butchart Gardens have been in operation for over 100 years! The gardens are over 55 acres and filled with a wide variety of indigenous and exotic blooms. Many of the flower beds are rotated seasonally, so no two visits to the Butchart Gardens are ever the same. In addition to the plants, you’ll notice wooded paths, stone benches, and many beautiful fountains.
The Butchart Gardens began when Jennie Butchart, the wife of a miner, was not pleased with the view outside their home. She was tired of looking at the quarry, and she was inspired to create a garden to provide for a more beautiful view. Jennie began building the garden during the early 1900s, and by the 1920s, people from all around the world were coming to the gardens to admire their beauty.
The Butcharts actually had purchased tickets for the Titanic’s sailing from Europe to America. They decided to alter their plans at the last-minute, and thankfully never boarded the Titanic. Thanks to that decision, we are able to enjoy the Butchart Gardens.
Today, the Butchart Gardens are a National Historic Site of Canada. The gardens receive over a million visitors each year!
How to Get There
The Butchart Gardens are located on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia in Canada. The Butchart Gardens are located near Brentwood Bay, which is right off the Saanich Inlet. The Butchart Gardens themselves were built off of a tiny inlet (Daphne Inlet) that offshoots from the Saanich Inlet. There’s a viewing point within the gardens where you can walk to see a view of the water.
From Victoria
The Butchart Gardens are easily reached from Victoria (20 kilometers/12 miles away). You can expect the drive to take between 30 and 40 minutes without traffic.
We took the Gray Line’s Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle when we last visited the Butchart Gardens. We boarded the double-decker bus right outside the Fairmont Empress hotel directly in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The bus seats were comfortable and our bus driver gave us a fully narrated tour during the entire journey. Before we even stepped foot in the gardens, we learned so much about their history! Our bus driver also pointed out important sites along the way, which we would have missed completely if we had driven ourselves.
From Vancouver
If you have a car, you can take the vehicle ferry from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from downtown Vancouver to the terminal. Once you cross via the ferry, the Butchart Gardens are about a 35 minute drive.
Another option is to take an organized tour from Vancouver to the Butchart Gardens. You won’t have to worry about transportation and figuring out the ferry system, and your guide will share with you all about the gardens! The tour will pick you up from Canada Place, or you can request a hotel pick-up. It’s super convenient and a great way to see the gardens!
You can also see the Butchart Gardens’ website for detailed travel information.
What to See
The Butchart Gardens is subdivided into several small gardens, each with their own theme and personality. I’ll highlight the major things to see in this section.
Waterwheel Square
This welcome square contains a visitor center, coffee shop, gift shop, and restrooms. You’ll notice a waterwheel feature with a statue of a boy fishing. This square is also where the giant sign “Welcome to the Butchart Gardens” is located. When we visited, there was almost always a short line of visitors waiting to take their picture in front of the sign. Shortly down the path from the square is the original home of the Butcharts, which is now the dining room and restaurant.
Sunken Gardens
The most famous section of the Butchart Gardens is the Sunken Gardens. This is where Jennie Butchart first began her plans for the garden. Looking at the Sunken Gardens now, you wouldn’t be able to tell that it used to be a quarry. The tall kiln stack in the center is the only hint of its previous purpose.
As you approach the Sunken Gardens, there’s a short path with a couple of switchbacks that will take you to the center of the garden. This is one of the most iconic spots for photos in the Butchart Gardens, because you’ll have the full gardens behind you. There’s also a small wooden house structure to the right of this view, if you’d like to see the gardens from its windows.
Once you’re in the Sunken Gardens, I recommend that you take the staircase up the kiln. You’ll have a beautiful 360 degree view of the Sunken Gardens. The kiln itself is covered with mosses, hanging plants, and flowers. It looks like something from a fairy tale!
Ross Fountain
As you follow the path through the Sunken Gardens, you’ll pass a quiet pond with a beautiful willow tree. Keep following the path, and the view will open up to the Ross Fountain. The Ross Fountain, named after the grandson of Jennie Butchart, was installed in 1964 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Butchart Gardens.
From the lookout point, you’ll have a view of the pond, the previous limestone quarry, and the forest beyond. Framed by the forest trees, this dancing fountain was easily one of my favorite parts of visiting the Butchart Gardens. If you look to the left of the fountain in the woods, you’ll notice a small totem facing the scene.
Bog Garden
After viewing the Ross Fountain, continue around the path and you’ll see the Bog Garden. This area of the Sunken Gardens is draped in shade from the forest canopy and has more of a mysterious feel. The plant life is more indigenous to the region, and we saw some deer sculptures to complete the wooded scene.
Rose Carousel
As you exit the Sunken Gardens, you’ll notice a beautiful carousel. The Rose Carousel contains 30 hand-carved animals. I think it’s one of the most beautiful carousels I have ever seen. The carousel is under cover, with giant glass panels protecting it from the elements. That way, it’s available to ride rain-or-shine. We learned that the animals in the carousel were chosen by the Butchart Family’s children as some of their favorites.
Concert Lawn and Stage
Across from the Rose Carousel you’ll find the concert lawn and stage. During the warmer months, there are live concerts several days per week. It’s the perfect setting to watch live music!
Butchart Totem Poles
Totem poles are an important cultural components of the local indigenous tribes of British Columbia. The totem pole in the Butchart Gardens, titled Eagle with Salmon, Orca, Bear with Salmon, was constructed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Butchart Gardens in 2004. The totem pole was carved by Doug LaFortune of the Tsawout First Nation people.
Fireworks Viewing Area
On Saturday evenings in July and August, the Butchart Gardens puts on a fantastic fireworks display. There’s a large lawn just past the totem poles. We recommend that you first put down your blanket to reserve a space, then walk through the gardens, and then return prior to the fireworks show. The parking lot can fill up quickly, so it’s not a bad idea to carpool or take a tour bus.
Dragon Fountain
The next point of interest along the path is the Dragon Fountain. The bronze statue of a dragon was gifted to the Butchart Gardens from the People’s Republic of China and the City of Suzhou in 2015.
Rose Garden
One of the highlights at the Butch Gardens is sure to be the rose garden. The rose garden contains 280 varieties of roses, 2,500 individual rose plants, and 30 rose archways. We recommend visiting the rose garden from summer to early autumn in order to see the plants in bloom. This was one of my personal favorites within the Butchart Gardens. I stopped to take many pictures. The roses had such unique petals and colors. I also appreciated that the roses were labeled. It was fun learning their specific names.
Sturgeon Fountain
Just north of the rose garden is the sturgeon fountain. The fountain is surrounded by benches within a shady area, and we thought it was the perfect place to rest and have a snack. The fountain was purchased in 1973, and it contains three sturgeons that spiral up with a fountain of water between them.
Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden within the Butchart Gardens is a serene and peaceful spot. At the entrance of the garden is a red Torii gate. The path gently meanders through the garden and contains little red bridges and occasionally stepping stones over trickling streams. The ground is covered in moss and the garden is well-shaded. There are over 500 rhododendrons and azaleas, and there are 74 Japanese maple trees. This was also one of our favorite places in the Butchart Gardens.
Butchart Cove
On the north side of the Japanese Garden, you’ll see an exit path to the Butchart Cove. If you take this path, you’ll get a glimpse of the sea. When we visited, there wasn’t access down to the beach, but it was a very pretty view.
Star Pond
When you exit the Japanese Garden, you’ll see a magnificent star pond. The pond was created by Robert Butchart in 1931 for his collection of ducks. The pond is surrounded by many benches and is a peaceful place to rest.
Italian Garden
As you again approach the main residence, you’ll be greeted by an Italian-style garden. The Italian Garden took the place of the previous tennis courts that were on the property. There’s a statue of Mercury within the garden, as well as a small pond. The highlight of this garden, for me, was the Gelateria! Be sure to grab a cone and enjoy some gelato while you admire the garden.
Mediterranean Garden
The only garden that’s off the main loop path is the Mediterranean Garden. This garden is adjacent to the parking lot. This charming little garden makes a good backdrop for photos. It features exotic plants that thrive in the temperate climate of British Columbia.
Afternoon Tea
The Butchart Gardens is one of the best places to have afternoon tea. The traditional tea service is located in the Dining Room. We do recommend that you make reservations in advance, and please note that admission to the gardens is required to access the Dining Room. There are a variety of tea services available, including afternoon tea, vegan tea, vegetarian tea, and gluten free tea. Some of the offerings, which rotate seasonally, include freshly made scones, compotes, chantilly cream, savory sandwiches, and an array of treats and pastries.
Dining
There are several dining options available at the Butchart Gardens.
- Coffee Shop: In addition to selling coffee, this quick-service counter has a variety of snacks and sandwiches. If you want a quick bite to eat, this is the place to go.
- The Dining Room: The formal Dining Room restaurant is where you will find the afternoon tea service and full meals. The setting is the original residence of the Butchart family. Dinner is served here as well.
- The Blue Poppy: This casual restaurant is located within a former greenhouse. Be sure to check the hours of operation in advance, as the Blue Poppy is not open every day.
- Gelateria: Enjoy gelato and sorbeto at the gelateria in the Italian Garden. We learned that several staff members traveled to Italy in order to make the gelato as authentic as possible! We tried the salted caramel gelato and it was creamy and delicious.
- Picnic areas: There are picnic areas available at the concert lawn and adjacent to the parking lot. No barbecues are permitted.
Events
The Butchart Gardens host a number of events throughout the year. Check the event calendar for specific dates, as many of the events are offered seasonally. Some of these offerings include:
- Summer Concert Series
- Summer Fireworks
- Night Illuminations
- Children’s Garden Gnome Hunt
- The Magic of Christmas
- Wedding Venue
More Information
The Butchart Gardens are accessible for strollers. There are some garden paths that have stepping stones or stairs, but they are not required paths. There are complimentary strollers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Most guests will typically spend about 3 hours walking through the Butchart Gardens. If in a rush, you could easily walk the main path in under 2 hours. If you’d like to take your time, take photos, and enjoy one of the dining options, plan to spend about half a day at the Butchart Gardens.
The Butchart Gardens are open during every season, rain-or-shine. If you’d like to avoid crowds, we recommend planning your trip for the early morning or late afternoon.
More Photos From Our Visit
There are so many beautiful things to see at the Butchart Gardens. We created this full gallery so you can get a sense of the beauty contained at the gardens!
Summary
The Butchart Gardens are located about 30-45 minutes north of Victoria BC, so you might be wondering if they are worth visiting. We absolutely recommend that you visit the Butchart Gardens! The gardens are absolutely stunning and are one of the top things to do on Vancouver Island. It would be a shame to miss out on seeing them. If you don’t have a personal vehicle, there are plenty of bus and tour options that will take you directly from Victoria.
We visited the Butchart Gardens on a sunny afternoon in early June. We had taken the Victoria Clipper from Seattle and spent 3 nights in Victoria BC. On our last day, we took the Gray Line from our hotel at the Fairmont Empress directly to the Butchart Gardens.
As we entered the gardens, we were immediately impressed with the scope of the gardens! There were so many unique gardens to explore, hidden benches, and a wide variety of plants and flowers. Although I’ve included many photos in this article, I wish I could convey the smell. The gardens smelled so heavenly! This is definitely a place where you’ll want to stop and smell the roses.
We interviewed several staff members, and the Sunken Gardens were definitely a favorite! The Italian Garden also scored a lot of points.
I hope that this article inspires you to plan your own visit to the Butchart Gardens!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
