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Blooming Beautiful Canada – Victoria, Vancouver Island

Emma De Fry | October 19, 2012 | 3:14 pm | Comment

The long trip across the Pacific Ocean from Australia to Vancouver is not only one of the longest flights possible; due to the time zone change, you also get there before you actually left. However, it is a trip that is well worth it.

Victoria, Vancouver Island, beautiful Canada
Charming Victoria, a sight for bleary eyes

 

We travelled literally from Victoria (Australia) to Victoria (Canada) and arrived on a sunny autumn morning bleary-eyed and not-so-bushy-tailed. However, when we flung open the curtains of our harbour-front rooms at the Delta Ocean Pointe Hotel, it was hard to keep ourselves contained and we were out there and amongst the ‘Victorians’ in blooming beautiful Canada before we knew it.

First Impressions of Beautiful Canada

Victoria, at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, is the capital of British Columbia and an absolutely charming and lively city. Not to mention beautiful. Everywhere you look are its famous hanging baskets filled with flowers. Victoria is not known as the ‘city of gardens’ for nothing.

Flowers in Victoria, Vancouver Island, beautiful Canada
Victoria’s floral highlights and the Fairmont Express Hotel

They adorn every light post and garnish every corner, and have done so for more than 75 years. Everywhere you look is a sea of colour, and against the backdrop of a perfect blue sky, the sights were mesmerising. In fact, every year Victoria proudly enjoys over two billion blooms!

Only a short hop, skip and jump from the hotel are the iconic sights – the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel, one of the cities original buildings, and the beautifully domed Parliament Buildings. One of the best ways to explore the city had to be by horse and carriage – a nod to Victoria’s British influences and a peaceful and refined experience that perfectly suited the location. It was one of APT’s ‘Freedom of Choice’ touring options in Victoria and seemed perfect for the glorious afternoon!

Horse carriage in Victoria, Vancouver Island, beautiful Canada
A traditional way to explore Victoria

Clopping our way through the streets behind the Clydesdale ‘Johnny Cash-or-Credit’, Canadian drivers simply accommodate our more simple method of transport, and as we are told by our Tour Director Linda, ‘no-one honks anyone here’. How refreshing!

Flowers and Gardens

The next morning, we ventured out to one of the huge reasons so many people visit Victoria. The famous Butchart Gardens.

Privately owned and operated since 1904 when Robert Butchart bought the land to establish a limestone quarry for their cement business, his entrepreneurial wife Jennie conceived a plan to refurbish the bleak pits he had created and began work on what is now the ‘Sunken Garden’. Jennie’s private pursuit gained some fame and since the 1920s, visitors have been visiting the ‘Butchart Gardens’ to see the magnificent gardens, which now display over 1 million bedding plants in some 700 varieties from all over the world.

Butchart Garden, Victoria, Vancouver Island, beautiful Canada
The Butchart Gardens

We were lucky enough to gain entry before the general public, with an exclusive breakfast in the Butchart’s original house thanks to APT. After a delicious eggs benedict with local salmon and great company, it was time to get out and explore.

Everywhere you look is colour and we witnessed non-gardening enthusiasts completely captivated by the display. There is something for everyone, and you can even bring your dog for a walk amongst the beautiful gardens! There is a historic carousel for children (and grown-up children) and an antique popcorn cart, which has been popping corn since 1904.

Gardens in Victoria, Vancouver Island, beautiful Canada
World famous Butchart Gardens

It had to be one of the most beautiful and colourful welcomes to a city that we had ever experienced, something that remains imprinted on your memory for a long time to come, and was only the beginning of our adventure in beautiful Canada!

If you’ve visited Victoria, Vancouver Island, before as well, we would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

About Emma De Fry

Emma has been exploring the ends of the earth since she was a teenager, notching up adventures in more than 60 countries and living in 5. Now, with a 5-year-old daughter and baby son, Emma is passionate about family adventures. As producer of Places We Go, Emma helps dream up where we go next, and loves to share our adventures through our stories.

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I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earli I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earlier in the year (between lockdowns!), and tour the Goldfields with @big4holidayparks – Sure, I got my much-needed fix of the outdoors and was able to feed my insatiable curiosity as I explored the regions utterly fascinating history & culture, but it was sitting up at the old bar of family run Munari wines, just outside of Heathcote that got me.
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 Chatting to the chief winemaker Adrian Munari, and his daughter India (over a lovely red, of course) I heard all about the historic sheep station that was established in 1871, and life on the property today. (I wonder how the farmers endured the pandemic in 1919?)  
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Here’s to a happy summer holiday for us all, of enjoying those ‘moments’, wherever we are. 
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 I based myself at the @BIG4BendigoAscotHolidayPark 
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 See link in bio if want to plan your own getaway 😍
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#holidayhearthisyear #ExploreBIG4 #BIG4HolidayParks #VisitVictoria @visitmelbourne
WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY? WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY?
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How would you (and a friend!) like to escape to NSW’s New England Tablelands on a 2-night LUXURIOUS getaway, experiencing the best of Armidale’s premium accom, stunning food, wine & beer, an immersion in the local arts AND a World-Heritage Listed backyard to cap it off? 
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Your weekend will include: 
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- 2 night premium suite package at the historic Tattersalls Hotel (including food & drink from their award-winning restaurant & breakfast included) 
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- A special "Private Directors Tour" at the New England Regional Art Museum of HINTON: Treasures of Australian Art, plus some goodies to take home! 
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- Grabbing a beer at Great Hops Brewing Company PLUS some special gifts delivered to your home
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- A special Hema Australian Atlas & Guide plus a NSW State Map 
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Take it from me, this is worth entering, and if you do in fact WIN, set your alarm and get up for sunrise in the New England National Park, followed by a trip to Wollomombi Falls (the second highest falls in the county!) - it was sincerely exceptional.
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Oh and say hello to John at the Tattersalls Hotel, Rachael from the Art Gallery, and Sam from Great Hops Brewery. 
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 **TAG A FRIEND YOU'D  LOVE TO TAKE, and increase your chances of winning by both entering.. I know I would 😉❤
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Good luck, 
Jen xx
WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺 . Would WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺
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Would love you to join me as we celebrate the locals of #armidale on TV today
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Tune in (or set your record buttons) @ 1.30pm, ON TEN **TODAY**
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A special thanks to all those that not only shared their magnificent backyard with us, but who opened their hearts and let our TV cameras in.
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Armidale, you can no longer use the term “hidden treasure” 😉
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Ps did I say “today” enough times? 😆🤪🙏 Jen xx
ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ready for another cele ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
 
Ready for another celebration of a brilliant person and travel experience for us all?
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Meet James Rainger from @fleetadventures 
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He not only spends his life taking us travellers on scenic chopper tours over his World-Heritage Listed backyard of the #newengland region – he’s one of the many brilliant pilots who you’ll find hovering above the blazing heat helping fight our Australian Bushfires.
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When I shared my nerves about flying, he settled me with in seconds. Super grounded, in safe hands kind-a-feeling, with the biggest sparkle in his eye.
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“To be part of the firefighting team is being in the #armidale  community - we all live here, our kids go to school here, so we love it. Armidale is a community where we all band together, we’re very passionate about our backyard, and we hope it shows.. and we certainly hope people come and see what it’s like. We’ve got a unique view of part of the world that not many people get to see. And there are not hordes of people here, so it’s very personal, we like to bring people into our world and our life – and share it – thank you for taking the time to come and visit us… “
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As for the flight? Put it on your @theaustralianbucketlist
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Jen xx

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