PARKS  & HISTORIC PLACES

In addition to being a beautiful spot for a stroll or a picnic, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site commemorates the national significance of the Victoria-Esquimalt coast artillery fortress in the defence of Victoria and the naval base at Esquimalt harbour, as part of the larger defence strategy of the British Empire and Canada, 1878 to 1956.
You can visit Fisgard Lighthouse which commemorates the national significance of the first lighthouse on Canada’s west coast. Fisgard has been an important symbol of sovereignty—British, Colonial and Canadian—since 1860.
Take the "Tour" on our website

HATLEY PARK

Nestled in the fabulous park gardens, he museum houses artifacts and exhibits that tell the story of the site from the days when the property was a Coastal Salish Indian burial site to the present time when it is home to the campus of Royal Roads University.   The museum has many original artifacts from the days when Laura and James Dunsmuir lived an elegant life here on this estate.  For 55 years the site was also an military officer's training school and the museum highlights that era. The museum aims to help visitors understand the significance of the site and the role of Hatley Park in the development of Vancouver Island. 

South Vancouver Island is famed for its parks. The 29 parks in the CRD system are the home to bald eagles, harbour seals, blacktail deer and redtailed hawks. There’s a CRD park for every taste. Some, like Witty’s Lagoon, are nature parks and are managed to provide opportunities for increasing awareness and knowledge of the region’s natural environment. Others, like Elk/Beaver Lake, are recreation parks and provide a diversity of recreation activities that depend upon the natural landscape. East Sooke is classified as a wilderness park and is managed to provide wilderness experiences of solitude and harmony with nature. Finally, the Galloping Goose Regional Trail is a park managed specifically to provide opportunities for long distance, non-motorized travel in a natural setting between parks and other regional points of interest. Go for a hike. Take a picnic. Go beachcombing, scuba diving, or explore the tide pools. Talk to a naturalist in one of the CRD Parks nature houses - at Francis / King Regional Park or at Witty’s Lagoon. And don’t let a disability keep you home. Some of the CRD parks are wheelchair accessible.

The exposed open coast of the Pacific Coast Mountains make up the spectacular surroundings of Pacific Rim. This unique park is composed of three parts - Long Beach, the West Coast Trail and the Broken Group  Islands. Features include sand beaches, an island archipelago, old-growth coastal temperate rainforest, and significant archaeological sites. Extensive interpretive programs are available throughout the summer for exploration of this amazing marine and forest environment.

The Centre of the Universe is the new interpretive centre at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, BC, Canada. Treat yourself to spectacular views of Victoria and the Cosmos! Our interactive exhibits and talented staff will introduce you to the amazing world of astronomy.

• Tour the awesome 1.8 metre Plaskett Telescope.
• Try our fascinating interactive exhibits.
• Travel the constellations in our Starlab Planetarium.
• Experience a special theatre presentation- the Falling Asteroid Blues, the Backpacker’s Guide to the Universe, or another one of our entertaining multimedia shows.
• Take part in one of our family-friendly special events, like our Saturday Star Parties or Stargazer Sundays.

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