Victoria Butterfly Gardens is an enchanting experience that will transport you to a magical world of vibrant colours, natural beauty, and peaceful serenity.
If you’re looking for a unique experience that will instantly transport you from Victoria to a tropical rainforest, then look no further.
This indoor temperature-controlled garden boasts a diverse collection of exotic plants, animals, and insects, making it one of the top tourist attractions in British Columbia.
Let’s take a look at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens.
Victoria Butterfly Gardens
The Butterfly Gardens in Victoria is home to a stunning variety of tropical butterflies, birds, and plants.
As soon as you step inside the lush, temperature-controlled environment, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported from Canada straight into a tropical paradise.
The attraction is located in Brentwood Bay, about 40 minutes north of town.
Furthermore, it is just down the road from Victoria’s famous Butchart Gardens.
This makes pairing the attractions a fabulous option for a day trip from Victoria. Whether you’re on your own or visiting Victoria with kids, this delightful attraction is most definitely one of the top things to do in Victoria.
Related: Victoria’s Best Parks & Gardens
What to See at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens
From poison dart frogs to tortoises, large iguanas to flamingos, tropical ducks to free-flying tropical birds, they’ve got it all – this should be a stop on any Victoria weekend itinerary.
And that’s not all; their serene pond and stream with a stunning waterfall are home to a huge variety of tropical fish, so keep an eye out for those, too.
Their large facilities, covering almost three basketball courts, are full of up to 70 species of tropical butterflies.
It’s like walking into a fairy tale! Stroll through and take in the lush gardens, where you’ll see tropical flowers, carnivorous plants, and fruits from all over the world.
Highlights:
- The vast array of free-flying butterflies, from which the attraction gains its name. You’ll find a colourful collection of these beautiful creatures from all over the globe.
- An array of tropical animals that have been adopted, donated or rescued from across Canada. Favourites include tropical birds, such as Parrots and Macaws, the Caribbean Flamingoes and numerous species of frogs, lizards and tropical fish.
- A collection of tropical trees, plants and ferns sourced from all around the world. From Coffee and Vanilla Plants to Palms and vibrant flowers, you’ll be guaranteed to spot a plant representing every colour of the rainbow.
The Insectarium
The Insectarium exhibit at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens is definitely worth checking out.
It’s a creepy crawly wonderland full of all kinds of fascinating bugs and insects from around the world.
Inside the Insectarium, you’ll get to see all kinds of exotic creatures up close, like giant beetles, hissing cockroaches, and scorpions.
There are even some interactive displays where you can touch and hold some of the insects (if you’re feeling brave).
The exhibit is designed to showcase the incredible diversity of the insect world and to help visitors appreciate the important role that insects play in our ecosystem.
It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a bug lover or just looking for something unique to experience, the Insectarium is a must-see!
Highlights:
- A full live Leaf Cutter Ant colony, which demonstrates their complex social interactions and ability to transport food and debris.
- A vast array of tropical bugs, beetles and insects from across the globe in an environment mimicking their natural habitat.
- Educational features that explain how insects use traits such as intimidation, camouflage, and mimicry to survive in the natural world.
Scavenger Hunt at the Butterfly Gardens of Victoria
The Scavenger Hunt at Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a fun and interactive activity that the whole family can enjoy.
Basically, when you enter the gardens, you’ll be given a scavenger hunt sheet with a list of clues and questions to answer.
Your task is to explore the gardens and find the answers to each clue, which will lead you to different parts of the garden and different exhibits.
The scavenger hunt is a great way to encourage visitors to really engage with both the Gardens and Insectarium to learn more about the different species of plants, insects and animals that live there.
It’s also a fun challenge that can keep you entertained for hours, especially if you’re up for a bit of a puzzle-solving adventure.
Plus, if you manage to complete the scavenger hunt and answer all the questions correctly, you’ll even get a prize at the end.
Looking for more family-friendly options while you’re in town? Check out our article on the top things to do in Victoria with kids.
Victoria Butterfly Gardens Tickets
You can grab skip-the-line tickets via our partners at Viator.
After all, you don’t want to travel all that way to waste valuable time standing in a queue.
The prices are as follows:
| Age | Price |
| Adult (18-64) | $19.42 |
| Senior (65+) | $15.22 |
| Youth (13-17) | $15.22 |
| Child (5-12) | $7.87 |
How to Get to Victoria Butterfly Gardens
Address: 1461 Benvenuto Avenue
Located in Brentwood Bay, BC, the gardens are about 30-40 minutes outside of Victoria’s city centre.
While some may view this as a negative, this allows you to pair your visit with a trip to nearby Butchart Gardens, Victoria’s most popular tourist attraction.
For this reason, Brentwood Bay is firmly planted near the top of our list of the best day trips from Victoria – in spite of its relatively close vicinity. With that said, what is the best way to get there?
By Car
- Start by heading north on Douglas St. towards Patricia Bay Hwy #17.
- Follow the Hwy north towards Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
- Turn off the highway at Keating Cross Road (Exit 18).
- Follow Keating Cross Road westwards. It will change into Benvenuto Avenue at West Saanich Road.
- The Victoria Butterfly Gardens will be on your left-hand side at West Saanich Road.
That’s it! Just a few simple turns, and you’ll be at the Butterfly Gardens in no time.
By Transit
- Board the #75 Saanichton Exchange bus along the east side of Douglas Street.
- Stay aboard until the bus exits Patricia Bay Hwy #17 for Brentwood Bay (likely around 30 stops).
- After exiting West Saanich Road, the bus will eventually turn left onto Keating Cross Road.
- Once you reach West Saanich Road, get off the bus, and Butterfly Gardens will be on the SW corner of Benevento Ave.
All in all, the journey should take a little under an hour – depending on traffic. Though it’s not ideal, it’s certainly doable.
The Butchart Gardens Express Shuttle
If you intend to pair your visit with a trip to Butchart Gardens, an express shuttle from Victoria’s Inner Harbour is offered to this botanical wonderland.
The shuttle includes admission to Butchart Gardens and round-trip transportation, which departs at set intervals throughout the day.
You can take the #75 bus along Benevento Avenue to get between destinations.
Alternatively, it’s a quick 5-7-minute cab ride. And staff will be more than willing to help you out with directions. Just remember, it’s absolutely imperative that you monitor the shuttle departure times from Butchart Gardens back to Victoria – or you’ll be looking at a long bus ride back.
? Coming from Vancouver? Read my post on how to get to Victoria from Vancouver
Related: Vancouver to Victoria by Bus
Butterfly Gardens Victoria Hours
The Butterfly Gardens are open 364 days a year, with the exception of Christmas Day.
The hours are as follows:
- July 1st–Sept 5th: 10am–4pm
- Sept 6–June 30th: 10am–3pm
Related: Best Whale Watching Tours in Victoria
Victoria Butterfly Gardens FAQs
What is Victoria Butterfly Gardens?
Victoria Butterfly Gardens is an indoor temperature-controlled tropical garden located in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada. The garden is home to hundreds of species of butterflies, birds, and other animals, making it a popular attraction for visitors of all ages.
Is Victoria Butterfly Gardens suitable for children?
Absolutely! Victoria Butterfly Gardens is a great place for families with children of all ages. Kids will love seeing the colourful butterflies up close, and there are many other animals to discover too, such as flamingos and parrots. All in all, the attraction is one of the best things to do in Victoria for families with children.
Where is Victoria Butterfly Gardens located?
Victoria Butterfly Gardens is located at 1461 Benvenuto Avenue in Brentwood Bay, BC. The location is about a 30-minute drive from downtown Victoria and 20 minutes from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.
What is the best way to get to Butterfly Gardens in Victoria?
Seeing that Butterfly Gardens is located a fair distance from the Inner Harbour and most Victoria hotels; the best option is simply to drive. However, if you don’t have a vehicle, the attraction is easily reached via the #75 Saanichton Exchange bus from along Douglas Street. You’ll just be looking at about an hour’s trip in each direction.
All Set to Visit the Victoria Butterfly Gardens?
This unique attraction is able to provide visitors with a quick tropical getaway right in the heart of a temperate Vancouver Island rainforest.
It is said that butterflies are nature’s confetti, and there is no better place to get up close and personal with these beautiful and transformative creatures.
Enjoy your Victoria Butterfly Gardens visit ?
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