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Finding your way to Oak Bay…by bus, by car or by bike
Tuesday, August 20th, 2002 by GetawayBC.com
There are a number of BC Transit city bus routes that will connect you with various parts of the municipality. All are regularly scheduled routes that can move you from downtown (or elsewhere) to Oak Bay in minutes.
For travelers leaving downtown, catch any ones of the No. 1, 2, 3 or 11 buses.
The No. 1 (Richardson/Willows) can be picked up on Douglas Street (on either side of the street) or on Yates or Humbolt Streets (on the south side of the street). This route will take you to South Oak Bay and McNeill Bay or Esteven and Willows Beach.
The No. 2 (Oak Bay/Gonzales) bus can be caught along Douglas Street (again, on either side of the street) or at Yates and Fairfield Streets (on the south side). You will arrive at the Oak Bay Village, the Marina or the Chinese Cemetery.
The No. 4 (Mt. Tolmie) bus should be picked up on the east side of Douglas Street and has the University of Victoria as a destination, via Camosun College and Henderson Road in North Oak Bay.
The No. 11 (Uplands) bus can be picked up on Fort Street (on the south side of the street). No. 11 travels along Cadboro Bay Road (two blocks from Estevan, four blocks from Willows Beach and on to the University of Victoria).
If your starting point is one of the shopping malls (Tillicum, Mayfair or Hillside), take the new No. 8 (Finlayson) route, which runs down Oak Bay Avenue into the heart of the Village business district and eventually delivers you to the Marina.
Use the No. 7 (Foul Bay) bus for north/south travel within Oak Bay. This route connects the University of Victoria in the north with Gonzales Beach and the Chinese Cemetery to the south, via Foul Bay Road – the western boundary of Oak Bay.
Bus fares for adults are $1.75, $1.10 for seniors (65+ with ID). Young children ride for free. For more transit information, call the BUSLINE at 382-6161.
Oak Bay Beach Hotel express
The Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Marine Resort offers its own pick-up service to Oak Bay. Its 33-passenger luxury coach provides free transportation (during high season) to and from Oak Bay Village and from downtown Victoria. Hotel guests are offered complimentary pick-up and departure service year round. Call the hotel at 598-4556.
By car, by bike or on foot
If cycling, driving or walking from the downtown area, the most popular route is Dallas Road to Beach Drive, which gives the opportunity to enjoy superb views of the sea, as well as the magnificent homes and gardens found along the coastline.
If you are traveling by car, consider driving the scenic Beach Drive with the stunning sea views and majestic Mt. Baker in the background. This route will lead you along the dazzling waterfront and direct you to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Marine Resort, the Oak Bay Marina, Willows Beach and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Turning onto Newport Road will direct you to the quaint Oak Bay Guesthouse. Estevan Village located on Estevan Avenue is also easily accessible from Beach Drive.
To find the Oak Bay Village, considered one of the main hearts of the area, take Fort Street to Oak Bay Avenue. This route allows you to access all the amenities that the Oak Bay Village has to offer. The Blethering Place Tea Room and Penny Farthing Pub are both nestled on what residents affectionately refer to as the