Butchart: transportation for 4

[epixx]

We're docked from 4 pm until 11 pm on a Sunday. Would we be able to use the public bus, or would CVS Victoria be better? We have 2 adults, one teen, and one preteen.

[GTJ]

You are able to travel by public transportation, but be careful so that you are able to return to the vessel timely. Also, the public transportation system is not designed around the cruise ship terminal, and you will have to make a transfer between bus routes. The entire journey takes about one hour, plus the time to wait for the buses, and will cost $4.50 ($2.80 for 18 and under). When making comparisons with inclusive tours to the gardens be sure to consider admission to the gardens, $28.10 adults, $14.05 for youths 13 through 17, $2.86 for 5 through 12, all rates plus tax.

 

Here's the details for public transportation on a Sunday afternoon.

 

Walk straight out of the Ogden Point cruise terminal onto Dallas Rd. Assuming you exit the terminal at the intersection of Dallas Rd & Montreal St turn left on Dallas Rd (if you exit the terminal at the intersection of Dallas Rd & St Lawrence St turn right on Dallas Rd). There is a bus stop shelter on Dallas Rd, between St Lawrence St and Montreal St. Wait there for either a route 30 or route 31 bus. When it arrives you'll need to tender $2.25 exact fare for each adult, $1.40 for youth up through age 18 (note that only Canadian money is accepted) and ask for a transfer. On Sunday afternoons these buses come about every 16 minutes. You'll want to ride to the very last stop, Royal Oak Exchange. Approaching the last stop, the bus will be traveling on Royal Oak Dr, making a right turn on Elk Lake Dr, with the last stop on Elk Lake Dr just beyond Royal Oak Dr. The journey there will take about 40 minutes.

 

Walk back up Elk Lake Dr towards Royal Oak Dr, then turn right on Royal Oak Dr (crossing Elk Lake Dr at the crosswalk). On Royal Oak Dr, just past Elk Lake Dr, are two bus stop shelters. Wait at the first shelter for route 75 towards Saanichton. This bus only runs once per hour, departing this stop at 29 minutes past the hour (until 7:29 p.m., then once again at 8:49 p.m.). Use your transfer to board without having to pay again. Ride this bus directly to Butchart Gardens. The journey there will take about 20 minutes.

 

On the way back board a route 75 bus at Butchart Gardens destined for the Royal Oak Exchange. These buses depart the gardens at 33 minutes after the hour until 8:33 p.m. (there is another bus 80 minutes later, but it stops on the highway, not at the gardens themselves, and you would barely get back to the cruise ship terminal before the vessel sets sail). Pay another $2.25 and ask for another transfer. Go to the last stop at Royal Oak Exchange (22 minutes travel time). Walk back along Royal Oak Dr to Elk Lake Dr, cross Elk Lake Dr at the crosswalk, and turn left. Go to the bus stop shelter on Elk Lake Dr and wait there for a route 30 or route 31 bus. Around 8:00 p.m. these buses start running less frequently, but at most you'll have to wait 27 minutes. Use your transfer upon boarding, and ride back all the way to Dallas Rd, between Montreal St and St Lawrence St (the same location, but on the opposite side of the street, from which you started to journey).

 

Go to http://www.bctransit.com for more details.

[cruiseryyc]

Take the CVS shuttle; you'll have more time to explore the Gardens and won't have to worry about missing the ship on the return trip.

[dblane]

:confused:What is the CVS shuttle?

[cruiseryyc]

Cruise Victoria Shuttle - see link below

 

 

http://www.cvscruisevictoria.com/services.html

[Putterdude]

Just a thought for the original poster...if you have concerns about transit on a Sunday, by the time you pay CVS the $7 for the shuttle and another $20 for the cost of trasportation out to the gardens...you are starting to get close to a cab fare of about $50 each way, granted the cost for teens and pre-teens is less...but just grist for the mill.