Butchart Gardens
Victoria, British Columbia

When Robert and Jennie Butchart came to live at Tod Inlet on Vancouver Island they named their home ‘Benvenuto’— Italian for ‘Welcome’. Starting with sweet pea seeds and a rose bush, Jennie began a lifelong project to create a garden. With great vision, she transformed the barren limestone quarry (excavated to supply the cement factory nearby). Now 22 hectares (55 acres) of breathtaking gardens on the 53 hectare (130 acre) estate are visited by close to a million people each year. In 2004, during the 100th anniversary, The Butchart Gardens, still family owned, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
The gardens are a must see whilst in Victoria and are extremely accessible to travellers with disabilities. The map below sets out the paths of travel that avoid steps for wheelchair users. Most of the Garden's paths are level, wide and smooth. The Sunken Gardens must be accessed via the far end near the Ross Fountain, although the lookout and rim path are accessible. The Japanese Garden is accessible from a path just to the left of its main entrance. The gardens are well laid out and affords the opportunity to spend 2 to 3 hours with family and friends.


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Home Photo Gallery Contact Us

	Butchart Gardens Victoria, British Columbia When Robert and Jennie Butchart came to live at Tod Inlet on Vancouver Island they named their home ‘Benvenuto’— Italian for ‘Welcome’. Starting with sweet pea seeds and a rose bush, Jennie began a lifelong project to create a garden. With great vision, she transformed the barren limestone quarry (excavated to supply the cement factory nearby). Now 22 hectares (55 acres) of breathtaking gardens on the 53 hectare (130 acre) estate are visited by close to a million people each year. In 2004, during the 100th anniversary, The Butchart Gardens, still family owned, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. The gardens are a must see whilst in Victoria and are extremely accessible to travellers with disabilities. The map below sets out the paths of travel that avoid steps for wheelchair users. Most of the Garden's paths are level, wide and smooth. The Sunken Gardens must be accessed via the far end near the Ross Fountain, although the lookout and rim path are accessible. The Japanese Garden is accessible from a path just to the left of its main entrance. The gardens are well laid out and affords the opportunity to spend 2 to 3 hours with family and friends.
	Entrance There are two entrances to the gardens depending on whether you arrive by your own car or by public transport. Disabled parking is available at the head of the car parking area. Arriving by public transport will drop you off at the bus entrance. Both entrances are equipped with a wide entrance to cater for wheelchairs. Both entrances take you to Waterwheel Square and the Butchart Gardens sign which is the start of the garden experience. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Sunken Garden From Waterwheel Square follow the path to the Sunken Gardens sign. The main path has a series of steps but just beyond it is a path that is step free and well signed. The path leads to the lookout over the Sunken Garden. The garden is the old quarry and looks spectacular from the lookout. The lookout area is large and level and the rails give an uninterrupted view from wheelchair height. Access to the garden from this point is via steps but to the right of the lookout is a path that follows the rim of the old quarry. The path is wide and of gentle gradient leading right to the far end of the Gardens and the Ross Fountain. From the "rim" path there are great elevated views over the Sunken Gardens. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Access to the Sunken Garden for wheelchair users is from the far end where the rim path meets the lower level. The paths within the garden are all wide and smooth and give access to the full circle and the Sunken Gardens lake. The mound lookout within the gardens is only accessible by steps. The lookout for the Ross Fountain, which continually changes its pattern, is also accessible. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Entertainment Precinct To continue with the tour of the gardens requires a backtrack up the rim path and left onto a path that leads to the Rose Carousel. Accessible washrooms are available on this path. The Rose Carousel is the the only carousel on Vancouver Island. There is a small charge per ride. The carousel has a portable wheelchair ramp allowing people with disabilities to enjoy this attraction. Beyond the carousel are the Totem Poles and the fireworks viewing area. This square is large and flat. Behind it is the entertainment stage and lawn area. There is a hard surface near the stage. The lawn area is relatively flat but the grass is thick and soft making traversing it in a manual wheelchair difficult without assistance. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Rose Garden From the entertainment precinct a wide and gradual path leads on to the Rose Garden, perhaps the most spectacular of all the garden rooms. The paths through the Rose Garden are easily negotiated and all give close up views of the Roses especially when they are in full bloom in Summer. Our visit was early July and while spectacular, the best was yet to come through late July and August. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Japanese Garden From the Rose Garden the path leads to the Sturgeon Fountain and then on to the Japanese Garden. To enter the Japanese Garden follow the signs past the main entrance to the next path down the hill. That path avoids a set of steps just inside the main entrance. From the second path the whole of the Japanese Garden is accessible. A word of caution is needed. Through the passage into the garden you will be descending and from the far end of the Japanese Garden it is a long uphill push back out. Beyond the Japanese Garden is the path to Butchart Cove which gives a great view of the Cove. The final section of this path is gravel, however. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Italian Garden Leaving the Japanese Garden the main path leads to the formality of the Italian Garden and its geometric patterns. Access through this garden is all level and smooth. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens Waterwheel Square and the Visitors centre The Italian Garden is excited through the archway containing the visitors book. The building also contains the plant identification centre to answer all the questions you have after winding your way through the garden. The path then brings you back to the starting point. This precinct contains accessible washrooms, a restaurant, the visitors centre, coffee shop and one of the most comprehensive and well stocked gift shops in Canada. This entire precinct is fully accessible. Click on an image for a larger view or take our full photo tour of the gardens The Butchart Gardens is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Canada and the most visited on Vancouver Island. It is a stunning garden and one that is well worth putting a minimum of two hours aside to visit. For more information, prices and opening times see http://www.butchartgardens.com Latest review July 2010

Butchart Gardens Victoria, British Columbia

Entrance

Sunken Garden

Entertainment Precinct

Rose Garden

Japanese Garden

Italian Garden

Waterwheel Square and the Visitors centre

Butchart Gardens
Victoria, British Columbia