Located at the Royal Roads University campus, this 565-acre estate, with lush gardens and expansive grounds, its own preserved forest lined with trails, and a magnificent 40-room castle, overlooks the Esquimalt Lagoon, a bird and wildlife sanctuary. The Strait of Juan de Fuca, with Washington’s Olympic Mountains as a backdrop, are visible from many areas throughout the park.

Most visitors to Victoria, flock to the Butchart Gardens, but the locals come here for a step back to Edwardian times. The grounds are open year-round, dawn to dusk--no admission, ample pay parking--and one can leisurely stroll in near solitude through the many diverse and distinctive gardens that encompass the estate. From the Italian, to the Japanese, and even to the Bog Garden, all are a delight offering a palette of beauty in a brimming sea of color. Ponds and pools, bridges and pathways, statues and sculptures—all add to the Old World setting. Numerous birds and animals roam the grounds, from peacocks to black-tail deer. For the nature or gardening enthusiast, the park is a "must see".

Hatley Castle, built in 1908, as the retirement home for the Honorable James Dunsmuir, a former British Columbian Premier, retains her grandeur and opulence. The landscaping, gardens, and grounds, have remained intact and true to the original 1908 design. Tours of the castle, for a small reasonable fee, are available through Friends of Hatley Park. A military museum, housed in the castle basement, provides the park’s history from its early Salish Indian settlement (300 AD) to the present. The university cafeteria offers inexpensive meals for park visitors.

Written By: Cheryl  Oakes
Photo Credit: Cheryl Oakes

Features
Kid Friendly  |  Bathrooms  |  Picnic Area  |  Picnic Tables  |  Soccer Fields  |  Wheelchair Accessible  |  Outdoor seating  |  Walking Trails  |  Lunch

Comments
I am presently involved with the building of a replica of the Dolaura and I would like to know if you have any information or design specs that would help. If you could send me something that would be truly appreciated. Thanks
- john buckroyd on Tue, May 13, 2003

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