Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Even if the salmon aren't spawning, Goldstream is a great place to visit at any time of
year, with a hike that's suited for you no matter what your fitness level. Starting from the
visitors center, the 200-meter (220-yard)
Marsh Trail
will reward you with panoramic wa-
ter views from the mouth of the Goldstream River. Another popular destination is
Gold-
stream Falls,
at the south end of the park. This trail leaves from the back of the park camp-
ground and descends to the picturesque falls in around 300 meters (200 yards). Noncampers
should park at the campground entrance, from where it's 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) to the
falls.
Saanich Peninsula
The Saanich Peninsula is the finger of land that extends north from downtown. It holds
Victoria's most famous attraction, Butchart Gardens, as well as Victoria International Air-
port and the main arrival point for ferries from Tsawwassen. If you've caught the ferry over
to Vancouver Island from Tsawwassen, you'll have arrived at
Swartz Bay,
on the northern
tip of the Saanich Peninsula; from here it's a clear run down Highway 17 to downtown Vict-
oria. If you've been in Goldstream Provincial Park or are traveling down the island from
Nanaimo on Highway 1, head north and south, respectively, to
Mill Bay,
where a ferry de-
parts regularly for
Brentwood Bay
on the Saanich Peninsula. (Brentwood Bay is home to
Butchart Gardens.) Ferries run in both directions nine times daily 7:30am-6pm. Peak one-
way fares for the 25-minute crossing are adult $7.20, child $3.60, vehicle $16.80. For exact
times, contact
BC Ferries
(250/386-3431,
www.bcferries.com
)
.
MM
BUTCHART GARDENS
Carved from an abandoned quarry, these delightful gardens are Victoria's best-known at-
traction. Approximately 20 kilometers north of downtown, the
Butchart Gardens
(800
Benvenuto Dr., Brentwood Bay, 250/652-4422,
www.butchartgardens.com
)
are open every
day of the year from 9am, closing in summer at 10pm and in winter at 4pm, with varying
closing hours in other seasons. Admission in summer is adult $30, youth 13-17 $15, chil-
dren 5-12 $3; admission in winter is around 60 percent of those rates.
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