Minibus Hire Canada

Victoria charter buses: ferries, harbour and gardens

Most coach days in Victoria have a ferry at one end. Book the crossing for the coach first, then plan the city part around where a bus is allowed to stop.

Book the ferry before anything else

Swartz Bay is about 31 km north of downtown, 35 to 40 minutes by road, and the crossing to Tsawwassen takes about 1 h 35 min. BC Ferries charges a separate bus fare, by vehicle length, for buses licensed to carry 16 or more passengers. Coach space is booked through its commercial and group booking services, and no-show fees apply to bus groups on major routes. In summer, reserve well ahead.

The Coho to Port Angeles, Washington, sails year-round and takes about 90 minutes. Commercial vehicle reservations are by phone only. Vehicles over 13 ft 10 in high cannot board, so the coach's height has to be checked when you book. US immigration is cleared in Victoria before boarding, so allow for it and have every passenger's documents ready.

MAN 57-seat coach, exterior
MAN 57-seat coach, exterior

What the city bylaws say about buses

Victoria's Streets and Traffic Bylaw sets aside the south side of the 800 block of Humboldt Street as an out-of-town tour bus zone, for tours that start outside the city. The sightseeing stands near the Inner Harbour are only for sightseeing vehicles licensed under the city's Vehicles for Hire Bylaw, so a visiting charter cannot use them.

Charter buses must not park in front of residentially zoned land. That can matter in James Bay and other neighbourhoods where hotels sit near homes. White curbs are commercial loading zones and need a city permit. The BC Parliament Buildings have no visitor parking on the grounds, and group tours there are booked in advance.

Cruise ship days at Ogden Point

Every vehicle picking up passengers at the Ogden Point terminal needs a Greater Victoria Harbour Authority decal. If a group is coming off a ship, the booking goes to an operator that holds one. For passengers only heading downtown, a contracted cruise shuttle runs on ship days.

Airports serving Victoria

Stadiums and arenas

  • Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre — Victoria Royals (WHL); about 7,400 for hockey and 9,000 for concerts, 1925 Blanshard Street
  • Starlight Stadium (Langford) — Pacific FC (Canadian Premier League), rugby and junior football; about 6,000 seats
  • Royal Athletic Park — Summer baseball and outdoor events near downtown

Day trips and transfers from Victoria

  • The Butchart Gardens — about 22 km, about 30 min
  • Sooke — about 40 km, about 45 min
  • Duncan and the Cowichan Valley (over the Malahat) — about 60 km, about 1 h
  • Chemainus — about 80 km, about 1.25 h
  • Nanaimo — about 110 km, about 1.5 h
  • Port Angeles, Washington (Coho ferry) — about 42 km by sea, about 90 min crossing

Coach rules in Victoria

  • Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is at Sidney, about 27 km by road north of the Inner Harbour, about 30-35 min in light traffic via Highway 17.
  • Swartz Bay ferry terminal is about 31 km north of downtown (about 35-40 min); the BC Ferries crossing to Tsawwassen (Vancouver) takes about 1 h 35 min.
  • BC Ferries has a separate bus fare, charged by vehicle length, for buses licensed to carry 16 or more passengers; commercial and bus-group bookings are made through BC Ferries' commercial and group booking services, and no-show fees apply to bus groups on major routes. Reserve coach space well ahead in summer.
  • City of Victoria Streets and Traffic Bylaw: the Out of Town Tour Bus Zone is on the south side of the 800 block of Humboldt Street, for buses running tours that start outside the city; Sightseeing Stands near the Inner Harbour are only for sightseeing vehicles licensed under the city's Vehicles for Hire Bylaw.
  • Charter and sightseeing buses must not park in front of residentially zoned land in the City of Victoria.
  • White curbs mark commercial loading zones, which need a City of Victoria permit.
  • Ogden Point cruise terminal: every vehicle picking up passengers at the terminal (shuttles, limousines, shore-excursion vehicles) needs a Greater Victoria Harbour Authority decal; a contracted cruise shuttle links the terminal and downtown on ship days.
  • The Butchart Gardens: on-site coach parking; no admission charge for the coach driver and one tour escort per bus with company identification; book through Group Services.
  • Black Ball Ferry Line's Coho sails Victoria-Port Angeles year-round (about 90 min); commercial vehicle reservations are by phone only, vehicles over 13 ft 10 in high cannot board, and US immigration is cleared in Victoria before boarding.
  • Winter tires or chains are required on designated BC highways from October 1 (to March 31 or April 30 depending on the route); on Vancouver Island these include the Malahat section of Highway 1. Watch for the signs.

Butchart Gardens and the drive up-island

The Butchart Gardens are about 22 km out, about 30 minutes. There is on-site coach parking, and tours are booked through Group Services. The coach driver and one tour escort per bus, with company identification, are not charged admission.

North of the city, the Malahat section of Highway 1 is one of the designated routes where winter tires or chains are required from October 1. That covers trips to Duncan, Chemainus and Nanaimo through the winter.

Questions

Where is the pick-up at Victoria International Airport?

Pre-booked pick-ups use the Short Term Lot curb across from the arrivals exit. The airport is at Sidney, about 25 to 40 minutes from downtown via Highway 17.

Can the coach park beside the Inner Harbour?

Not at the sightseeing stands, which are reserved for city-licensed sightseeing vehicles. The driver sets down nearby and waits elsewhere.

Do we pay for the driver at Butchart Gardens?

No. The driver and one escort per bus with company identification get in without charge.

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