Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island

Many visitors to Victoria, British Columbia are unaware of the attractions and beauty of the Saanich Peninsula. It’s the portion of southeastern Vancouver Island with the city of Victoria at the south end and with Sidney, Victoria International Airport and BC Ferries at the north end.

Saanich Peninsula

The peninsula is only 20 miles (30km) long and only a few miles wide bounded by ocean beaches. Its quiet agricultural plains are separated by gently rolling forested hills and by small communities.

You can drive its full length on Highway 17 in about 45 minutes so it is compact. But the joy of this area lies in its exploration, not just its major attractions like the Butchart Gardens. So rent a car so that you do not miss out on the delights of the Saanich Peninsula and further outlying areas like Sooke. Visit the communities, artisan workshops, gift shops such as at Matticks Farm, fruit stands, gardens, wineries, parks for hiking and beaches, and even a lavender farm.

To start, drive up Mount Douglas to see panoramic views of Victoria, the Peninsula and the Gulf Islands.

Saanich Peninsula attractions

You will not want to miss the 50 acres of magnificent displays at the Butchart Gardens but allow time for so much more. En route to the Garden, you will pass Butterfly Gardens with 3,000 butterflies, moths and birds in a tropical jungle and next door are two other significant attractions – Church and State Wines where you can also attend a demonstration of ‘The Raptors’, an excellent display of birds of prey.

A few minutes south is the Centre of the Universe at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory. Ask your B&B hosts to check on times of their tours and star-gazing evenings.

Then just a little further south is Glendale Gardens. No massed displays here, it’s all low key, but what a charming place: over 10,000 varieties of plants in themed gardens with a superb Japanese Garden. This is a demonstration and teaching garden, rather than a display garden.

Drive north, up Highway 17 or via the leisurely scenic route along the West Saanich Road to the booktown of Sidney, largely a retirement community, with interesting shops along Beacon Avenue leading to the wharf where you can take the short ferry hop to the island of Sidney Spit. Here are also the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre and Mineral World. Nearby, close to the airport, is the BC Aviation Museum.

Saanich Peninsula wineries

Our Vancouver Island wineries have been one of the great success stories of recent years. Enjoy a tasting at several of them on the peninsula. What better souvenir of your visit to Victoria than a bottle of local BC wine?

From south to north, you have an excellent choice. Old West Saanich Road has Starling Lane Winery (really three vineyards in one), Dragonfly Hill Vineyard, De Vine Vineyards (great name!) and even a distillery, Victoria Spirits, where you can watch the intriguing process at their still.

Church and State Wines, near the Butchart Gardens, is the largest Vancouver Island winery: it features both Saanich Peninsula and Okanagan wines.

Midway “up” the peninsula on the west side is Marley Farm Winery and on the east side is Sea Cider which offers a free cider-house tour. Finally, in the northeast is Muse Winery.

Note that most wineries are only open to the public on summer weekends.

Recreation

Very close to the Butchart Gardens is a favourite walk. It is an easy stroll through the edge of Gowlland Tod Provincial Park to Tod Inlet, 15-20 minutes each way, full of natural beauty. Several other parks, such as John Dean Park, offer good hiking paths and you can take a 10-km flat walk around Elk and Beaver lakes.

This borders the community of Brentwood Bay which is centred on Saanich Inlet, a great place for kayaking on placid waters within a forested fjord.

Surrounded by water, it’s not surprising that the Saanich Peninsula has some great beaches, some for strolling along or soaking up the sun like Island View beach or Cordova Bay, others for literally poking around like at Patricia Bay, and others to enjoy for their scenic beauty.

If the fairways are your idea of relaxation, you will be pleased to discover that the whole Victoria area is studded with golf courses in lovely settings.

So do plan to enjoy much more than just downtown Victoria on your vacation on southern Vancouver Island!