Explore the Great Outdoors

Oak Bay offers outstanding year round active recreation suitable for most capabilities. We are blessed with many beautiful sandy bays with easy access, and children will enjoy exploring the tidal pools at Cattle Point, kid-friendly Willows Beach, wildlife at the Oak Bay Marina where the resident harbour seals hang around the fish cleaning station looking for daily snacks (frozen fish packets can be purchased in the gift shop), and watching for diving ducks, blue herons and eagles on one of several easily accessible beaches in the area.

Discover:

Beaches

Birding

Cycling

Fishing

Gardening

Golf

Hiking & Walking

Kayaking

Parks

Recreation Centres

Sailing

Scenery

Whale Watching

Beachcombing in Oak Bay

Oak Bay's Beaches are mostly sandy, and protected from prevailing winds and waves, making them very safe and ideal for kayaking and small water-craft enthusiasts. The varied coastline of Oak Bay offers both sandy beaches for sun tanning, and rocky coastline for tide pool exploration, bird watching or storm watching. Find out about more than 20 Oak Bay beaches here.

Sandy Willows Beach is Victoria's best sun-tanning and swimming beach and is a popular spot for socializing. A children’s playground is located on an adjoining grassy area. The Kiwanis Tearoom is open throughout the summer months for drinks and snacks, or walk the short distance to Estevan Village for some of Victoria’s best fish and chips.The beach at Cattle Point offers interesting rock features and sea life if you can catch it at low tide. On clear days the view of Mt. Baker is spectacular.

Gonzales Bay, at the south end of Foul Bay Road, is a sandy, crescent shaped beach that is rarely crowded even through the summer. This is a favorite spot for skimboarders who take advantage of the suitable waves and flat beach.

McNeill Bay, at the south end of Oak Bay, is also a sandy beach that is more suitable for strolling than sun tanning with beautiful views of Trial Island and the Olympic peninsula beyond.

Birding on Vancouver Island

Birding Vancouver Island reports that birding is "any time" and that we have upwards of 200 species of our feathered friends right here. Oak Bay is surrounded by a mainly rocky coastline and is home to numerous backyard birders. The area is a magnet for the 240 species that visit the Victoria region annually. Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles are often-seen residents, as are numerous shorebirds and British Columbia’s provincial bird the Steller’s Jay.

While Victoria’s climate makes for successful birding year round, species are more numerous during the spring and fall migrations. The highest bird numbers occur in winter, representing several species of waterbirds, including gulls, cormorants, diving ducks, dabbling ducks, grebes, alcids, and mergansers. Whale watching and kayaking adventures offer excellent close-up views of birding spots accessed only from the water.

The Island's Choice for Cycling

Beach Drive is arguably Vancouver Island's most popular choice for advanced and recreational cycling. Well-maintained roads, good signage and many places of special interest make for enjoyable cycling. The relaxed pace in Oak Bay is perfectly suited to two wheel adventures. The seaside touring route closely hugs the shoreline and passes resplendent gardens, heritage houses and quiet parks. There are many places to stop for a rest, have a picnic or simply admire the view. Speed limits are low (40 km/h) and residential areas boast wide streets and large overhanging trees for shade.

Click here for cycling maps.

Fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Oak Bay is a favoured fishing destination, offering year-round opportunities to catch ‘the big one’. And because fishing grounds are close by, less time is spent travelling to the hot spots - so you can spend more time enjoying the fishing! Charters departing from Oak Bay Marina can reach the fishing grounds in as little as fifteen minutes.

Salmon are BC’s most popular fish and they are plentiful in the waters surrounding Oak Bay. Spring Salmon, also known as King Salmon or Chinooks, are the largest Pacific Salmon, usually weighing in at over nine kilograms (20 pounds). Coho Salmon (also known as Silvers) are plentiful from July through October. They are typically between four and five kilograms (nine to 11 pounds) but can reach up to seven kilograms (15 pounds). Pink Salmon may be caught through August and September in odd numbered years only. Pinks range in size from one to two kilograms (two to four pounds) and are usually caught between June and September.

Halibut are a popular catch from March to November and can grow to almost 100 pounds. A variety of other fish including Red Snapper, Rock Cod, Lingcod and others can be caught year round. Your guide can advise on the most likely catch based on the tide and current. Once you’ve reeled in your catch there are several options for getting it home. Most accommodations are happy to freeze your fish for you. Insulated in newspaper and packed in a box, frozen fish will survive all but extremely long flights. For short flights carry your fish onboard as hand luggage. Check it as part of your baggage for longer flights as the plane's cargo hold is kept cold. If you are driving a recommended option is to buy an inexpensive Styrofoam cooler for transporting the fish. If the trip is lengthy it’s recommended the fish be frozen first. There are a number of companies who will professionally smoke or can your catch or expertly package it and ship it to your home. There are a number of regulations around shipping fish for identification and size confirmation purposes. Check with your guide if you have questions about shipping your catch. If you are shipping internationally it is necessary to confirm your country’s regulations prior to shipping to ensure your catch reaches its destination.

Home of the Butchart Family

Gardening is recognized as being the most popular hobby/recreation in the western world. To this end, you might feel that it all began here in Oak Bay (the Butchart family home is here). The combination of Oak Bay’s unique microclimate and long growing season presents the ideal setting for plants from all over the world to thrive - and gardeners to grow like it is a competitive sport. Visitors can see many impressive displays by strolling or cycling through residential neighborhoods or visiting one of Oak Bay’s lovingly maintained parks.The Oak Bay English Rose garden on Newport Avenue is much admired, as is the native plant garden on Beach Drive opposite the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

Look for a variety of garden types and styles including:

Woodland gardens
Formal gardens
Xeriscaped gardens
Gravel gardens
Naturalistic gardens
Cottage gardens
Japanese style gardens
Specialty gardens such as rose or container gardens.

For insider tips on creating a spectacular garden try a gardening workshop at one of Oak Bay’s garden shops.

The Best Golf Courses on the Island

Golfers in Oak Bay proudly tell you they are able to golf 365 days a year – and they do, thanks to Oak Bay’s mild climate! Three courses, representing a range of difficulty and cost, offer a variety of options for the visiting golfer. Rugged coastline, the Olympic Mountains and majestic stands of ancient Garry Oak trees are some of the dramatic course settings.

Victoria Golf Club was established in 1893 and is the oldest golf club in Canada still on its original site. A 6,000 yard 18-hole seaside course set on 100 acres, Victoria Golf Club is consistently voted one of the top courses in Canada.

Uplands Golf Club is a semi-private 18-hole course which opened in 1926. The original tract of 126 acres was owned by the Hudson's Bay Company and leased to two area farmers in the 1920's for grazing and harvesting hay. This challenging course can usually be golfed after 1PM, requiring three and a half to four hours to complete. All holes can be previewed online.

The Henderson Centre Golf Course is a nine-hole par 3 course that is part of the Oak Bay Parks system. Tee times are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis and the course is open to adults and children over five years old. Rental clubs and lessons are available. Prices are very reasonable and can be found on the Recreation Oak Bay website.

Explore Oak Bay

The varied geography in the region offers a range of hiking options from wilderness hiking to easy woodland trails. Discovery Island, a provincial park, is Oak Bay’s wilderness hiking area. The main trail branches off into various points throughout the park. Visitors can hike to the lighthouse in the east part of the park and to the wild meadows in the western half. Trail difficulty ranges from easy to moderate. Discovery Island is accessible by canoe or kayak and many tour operators stop there as well.

Uplands Park is the next largest wilderness park with 76 acres of woodland trails and Garry Oak meadows. Trails are considered easy. Visit Anderson Hill Park for gentle trails with a view and benches for picnics.

Trafalgar Park offers trails and rocks that slope to the ocean for more challenging hiking or easy rock climbing.

While the whole village is very "walkable", there are numerous walking paths throughout the village. Here are just a few:

Woodburn Path links Lansdowne to Woodburn (beside 3121 Woodburn and beside Uplands Golf Course).
Pathway at 2004 Rattenbury Place that leads to Mt Tolmie Park in Saanich.
Walking tours along heritage and scenic routes.
For pet owners - there are many Dog-friendly parks in Oak Bay. Information about these parks can be found on the Oak Bay website.

Wilderness Kayaking on Vancouver Island

Oak Bay features the most pristine wilderness kayaking area on southern Vancouver Island. The waters around the Chain Islands are home to large colonies of seabirds and seals. A dozen or so bald eagles, itinerant sea lions and killer whales add to the action. Discovery and Chatham Islands are only fifteen minutes from Oak Bay’s shore but the wilderness kayaking they offer is comparable to what you'll find on the famous west coast of Vancouver Island. What is particularly appealing to kayakers is that Oak Bay’s waters can be safely paddled most months of the year. The area is generally protected from prevailing winds and waves. The many small islands provide further protection, as well as points of interest. A variety of beaches and boat ramps around Oak Bay Marina and Cattle Point provide convenient access. Several companies offer guided kayaking tours of Discovery and Chatham Islands and Oak Bay's coastline. One of the comforts of kayaking these wild, stunning waters is that civilization is barely an eagle's call away.

Relax in Oak Bay

Oak Bay is dotted with pockets of public space that are enjoyed year-round by visitors and residents alike. The region is fortunate to enjoy a variety of green spaces – some were designed simply as quiet places to enjoy while others are full-facility parks with a selection of amenities. Many have historical significance or are important for conservation as well as for enjoyment, education and relaxation.

Oak Bay nature parks feature areas for woodland strolling, quiet reflection or to enjoy the flora and fauna of southern Vancouver Island including an impressive variety of bird species. Several of the parks have points of access to the waterfront for shoreline exploration, while those of a higher elevation feature panoramic views of the sweeping coastline and Olympic Peninsula. Many Oak Bay parks support rare and unique ecosystems and are home to many protected plant species. There are numerous multi-use parks in Oak Bay offering recreational space to toss a Frisbee, jog, play tennis or watch the kids splash in the water park. Access a searchable Oak Bay parks listing.

Most parks are dog-friendly and many allow dogs to run off-leash. When leashes are required seasonally, a notice is posted at the entrance to the park.

Get Your Game on in Oak Bay

The Oak Bay Recreation Center has tennis, fitness facilities, swimming, soccer, gym, ice skating and more and is open every day all year round (6 am until very late). In addition, the Henderson Recreation Centre, Monterey Recreation Centre, Carnarvon Centre and Windsor Pavilion are Oak Bay facilities that offer a multitude of activities. Visit Recreation Oak Bay for more information.

Take to the Waters in Oak Bay

It is no coincidence that such a large number of sailboats call Oak Bay waters home. Sailors consider Oak Bay and surrounding waters to be one of finest places to sail in British Columbia. A year-round sailing destination, Oak Bay offers spectacular scenery, plentiful marine wildlife and sailing conditions ranging from relaxing to challenging, set against a spectacular panorama of snow-capped mountains. The many islands in Oak Bay offer sheltered sailing as well as interesting places to stop and explore. In Haro and Juan de Fuca Straits, sailors will find a greater choice of wind and wave conditions.

If you have a half day to spend, try sailing around Discovery and Chatham islands. These uninhabited islands are among the loveliest of the Gulf Islands – solitary, wild and natural. A full day is recommended, though, to allow time to anchor in one of the many sheltered coves and hike Discovery Island Marine Park. Check out the view from atop Pandora Hill - on a clear day you can see Mount Rainier in Washington State, nearly 400 kilometres to the south-east. Camping is permitted on parts of the island.

Sailing excursions are offered by a range of skippered sailing charters out of Oak Bay and Victoria. Excursions may be booked for a half day, full day or overnight. Or book a combination experience combining sailing with kayaking or whale watching.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club offers moorage on a reciprocal privileges basis from April to October. Check their website for a list of reciprocal clubs or contact RVYC for details. Space is allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. This club, together with the Turkey Head Sailing Association organizes a wide variety of races for various class boats throughout the year. Good vantage points for watching the racing include Willows Beach and Cattle Point.

For those on a sailing holiday, Oak Bay Marina, located only a short walk from Oak Bay Village, offers transient moorage for vessels up to 70 feet. Amenities including fuel, ice, showers and laundry, as well as power and water. The marina is a Canadian port of entry and Customs information is posted at the fuel dock. Other facilities include a coffee shop and the Marina Restaurant, a local favourite for fine dining and sushi – with a view. Oak Bay Marina is a popular place for walking the docks, viewing boats and seals.

Your Gateway to Vancouver Island

The immediate horizon is stunning, often with views of Mount Baker clearly showing its white snow line. The Olympic mountains,Trial Island and the ever-changing skies are reminders of our lovely natural heritage. There is a WWII observation platform still standing at Walbran Park on top of Gonzales Hill - it has panoramic views of Victoria, the Olympic mountains, and the Salish Sea.

Victoria's Whale Watching Destination

Oak Bay is an excellent departure point for whale watching, being located only a few minutes from the San Juan and the Gulf Islands. The area is frequented by both resident and transient Orcas (also known as Killer Whales) as well as Gray Whales, Dall’s Porpoise, Harbour Porpoise, Minke Whales and Humpback Whales. Approximately eighty Orcas are year-round residents. They come closest to shore between May and October and sightings are most common at this time. Gray Whales are also commonly seen between March and October. Whale watching tours also feature an opportunity to explore some of the local wildlife including Harbour Seals, Stellar Sea Lions, Elephant Seals, Bald Eagles, Sea Otters and a variety of seabirds. The abundance of wildlife in the area guarantees a variety of wildlife sightings at any time of year.