Oak Bay and Gonzales
OVERVIEW
Tucked away at the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island are the waterfront districts of Oak Bay and Gonzales. Attributed as two of Victoria’s most affluent neighbourhoods, the districts of Oak Bay and Gonzales date back to the mid-1800s and early 1900s and still feature many beautifully restored heritage homes and buildings from their early years.
Oak Bay and Gonzales Condominium Benchmark Price: $558,500 (as of Dec 2018, according to MLS Home Price Index)
Single Family Home Benchmark Price: $1,209,900 (as of Dec 2018, according to MLS Home Price Index)
Oak Bay and Gonzales
Key hallmarks of Oak Bay include the charming Oak Bay Village where one can shop, sip tea, “do lunch,” and explore for hours. Garry Oak lined streets and scenic waterfront add to Oak Bay’s charm. And one of the Island’s most prestigious oceanfront golf courses adds a little extra sparkle to the neighbourhood’s overall appeal.
Gonzales shares a border at the foot of Oak Bay, making it conveniently located between Oak Bay Village, Fairfield, and Cook Street Village. Gonzales features beautiful beach homes, quiet neighbourhoods, Gonzales Beach, and a stretch of waterfront that connects Hollywood Crescent with Dallas Road.
As residents of Oak Bay and Gonzales, you are afforded a lifestyle that can only be had by living in a pristinely kept, self-sustaining neighbourhood with plenty of peace and quiet, immaculately kept gardens and green space, sandy beaches, unsurpassed oceanfront views, and a private golf club that’s just steps away from your front door.
OAK BAY AND GONZALES LOCATION
Lifestyle
Sophisticated Urbanite
60% city + 40% Island Life
Within walking or biking distance to two of Victoria’s most popular sandy beaches. Walkable and bikeable distance to Oak Bay Village which features several shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, medical services, salons, spas, florists, garden nurseries, and grocers.
Peaceful and pristine neighbourhoods, far enough away from the bustle of downtown. Gardens, arbours, and protected old-growth trees. Quiet streets, parks, waterfront, and trails for jogging and strolling. Close knit community where you can easily build familiarity with your neighbours and nearby vendors.
Easy access to Downtown Victoria via bike, car or public transit. In close proximity to Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital as well as some of the city’s best private practices, specialists, and dentists. Access to a private golf club and seaside golf course. Walkable distance to beach access and Oak Bay Marina.
Pet-Friendly
Several parks and open spaces in Oak Bay/Gonzales welcome dogs on-leash, and some offer either seasonal or year-round areas for unleashed dogs. Please refer to this Dogs in Parks page & Interactive Dog Map provided by the District of Oak Bay for more information on where dogs are allowed or prohibited.
Senior-Friendly
Quiet streets, walkable access to shops and amenities, and the outdoor lifestyle offered by Oak Bay/Gonzales make it one of the most senior-friendly areas of Victoria, BC.
Key Landmarks & Amenities
Parks & Outdoor Attractions
The district of Oak Bay and Gonzales features several parks, trails, and beaches, many of which have playgrounds, multi-use sports fields, seating, and dog off-leash areas. You can find more information on all the parks and outdoor attractions here. Following are just a few community favourites
Seaside park featuring a large war memorial, Garry Oaks, greenery, unpaved trails, and scenic views along with seating and picnic areas. Find out more!
Multi-use sports fields, a basketball court, outdoor tennis court, lacrosse box, area for lawn bowling, a children’s playground and waterpark, washrooms, benches, picnic areas, and parking. Find out more!
Fields for baseball and soccer, picnic areas, benches, washrooms, a children’s playground, parking, and more. Find out more!
Small walking trail, ponds, greenery, picnic tables, and benches. Dogs not allowed. Find out more!
A short walk up Gonzales Hill to where the Observatory, a historical weather station, has been perched for over 75 years will grant you breathtaking views of Juan de Fuca Strait, Sooke Hills, and the Olympic Mountains. Find out more!
Small, paved, waterfront walkway that stretches from Beach Drive to the Oak Bay Marina with plenty of benches and scenic ocean views. Dogs are not allowed. Find out more!
Fields for baseball, soccer, an outdoor tennis court, seasonal golf course, picnic area, washrooms, chip trail for jogging, a children’s playground, and on-site parking. Dogs not allowed on chip-trail, playground or golf course, but welcomed on-leash in other areas of the park. Find out more!
Multi-use sports fields, area for Cricket, outdoor tennis courts, a children’s playground, memorial rose garden, picnic tables, benches, washrooms and parking. Find out more!
Large grassy area for picnics and volleyball, a concession and tea house, washrooms, paved-walkway, and one of Victoria’s most popular sandy beaches. Dogs on-leash allowed on grassy areas and walkways year-round, and on the beach (leashed or unleashed) between October 1st through April 30th. Find out more!
Beautiful, developed walkway along the Bowker Creek corridor with bench seating and picnic tables. Dogs on-leash welcomed. Find out more!
Historical WWII lookout offering scenic views of Victoria. Find out more!
Easily accessible scenic viewpoint of the ocean, with lots of seating and areas for picnicking. Find out more!
Rocky waterfront lookout point, walking trail with Garry Oaks and greenery. Dogs welcomed on-leash with some off-leash allowance in the park’s open area from July through March. Find out more!
The waterfront park is located to the left of Oak Bay Marina, offering green space, beach access, seating, and scenic views of the ocean and Mt. Baker. The Marina features full-service moorage and one of Victoria’s best restaurants, a gift shop, kayak tours, seasonal bicycle rentals, and free parking. Find out more!
Prestigious 120-acre, waterfront golf course and private golf club along with a pro shop and banquet room for weddings and special events. Find out more!
Located at the South end of Foul Bay Road, you’ll find a grassy area and one of Victoria’s favourite beaches for sunbathing during the summer months. Dogs on-leash welcomed on the grassy area above the beach year-round, and unleashed on the beach from September through May. Find out more!
Private yacht club offering moorage, sailing programs, kayak and stand up paddleboarding rentals (free/included in membership), dining, special events, races, regattas and cruising excursions. Find out more!
Schools
Oak Bay and Gonzales are part of Greater Victoria School District No. 61 which includes 27 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 7 secondary schools. The following schools are located within the Oakbay and Gonzales areas or are in close proximity and include public schools as well as independent schools and programs:
Gonzales Preschool: Co-ed preschool with indoor and outdoor classrooms.
Oak Bay Preschool: Parent-owned and licensed co-op preschool for 3 & 4 year olds.
Margaret Jenkins Elementary: Public elementary school offering dual track English and early French Immersion to students from K - grade 5.
Campus View Elementary: Public elementary school offering K - 5 dual track curriculum in English and French Immersion.
Frank Hobbs Elementary: K - 5 public school located just outside of Oak Bay, offering instruction in English and French Immersion.
St. Christopher’s Montessori: Independent Montessori School offering half-day preschool and full-day kindergarten.
Playful Pencil Art Studio: Fun art programs for children, teens, and adults.
Virtual Science Fair Schools: “Annual online science and technology content open to all Canadian students in grades K -12.”
Going Digital Photography Training: Tailored digital photography courses.
Canadian College of the Performing Arts: Independent institution “offering the highest level of performing arts instruction with a national scope and vision.”
Victoria Suzuki Piano School: Private, expert, Montessori-style piano lessons for young children and teens by instructor with over 35 years of teaching experience in Orff, Kodaly, Suzuki and Montessori methodologies.
Gillybird Nature Academy: Flexible preschool program offered in a mix of indoor and outdoor settings to children aged 30 months to 5 years.
St Patrick’s Elementary School: Independent Catholic elementary school offering instruction to students from K to grade 7.
St. Michaels University Junior School: CAIS Accredited, independent elementary school offering co-ed curriculum to students from K - 12, and boarding school for students from grade 8 - 12.
Glenlyon Norfolk Junior School: Acclaimed private elementary school offering curriculum to students from preschool through grade 5.
Glenlyon Norfolk Middle School: Acclaimed private middle school offering curriculum to students from grade 6 - 8.
Glenlyon Norfolk Senior School: Acclaimed private secondary school offering curriculum to students from grade 9 - 12.
École Willows Elementary: Public elementary school offering instruction in both English and French Immersion to students from K to grade 5.
Monterey Middle School: Public middle school offering instruction with a positive and mindful philosophy to students from grade 6 - 8.
École Willows Elementary: Public elementary school offering dual track instruction in both English and French Immersion to students from K to grade 5.
École Beausoleil: Francophone based elementary school.
École Intermédiaire Lansdowne Middle School: Public middle school offering English as well as early and late French Immersion instruction to students from grade 6 to 8.
Rock and Go Guitar School: Private, customized guitar lessons for beginners through to advanced players.
Artistic Statement School of Fine Art: Gallery, art programs, and curriculum for kids and adults aged 5 and up. Also offers a portfolio course for students preparing for college and university entrance requirements
École Secondaire Oak Bay High School: Public secondary school offering instruction in both English and French Immersion to students from grade 9 - 12.
Artemis Place Secondary: Independent, alternative school for children and young mothers. Offers self-paced curriculum to students from grade 9 - 12.
Girls Alternative Program: Small, alternative school operated by Victoria's non-profit CoolAid Society, offering individually-paced programs in grades 9 -10 as well as some grade 11 and 12 to “girls experiencing difficulty with regular school,” and pregnant/parenting teens.
Victoria College of Art:“Vancouver Island’s largest school of art.”
School of Music: University of Victoria's music undergraduate and graduate programs.
4Cats Art Studio: Fun arts and crafts workshops and parties for kids, teens, and adults.
Camosun College Lansdowne Campus: Community college and continuing education. Lansdowne is one of two campuses Camosun has in Victoria.
St. Michaels University School: CAIS Accredited independent school that offers co-ed instruction to students from K - grade 12 as well as boarding school for kids from grade 8 to 12.
University of Victoria: Victoria's university and home of the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business.
Victoria International Student Programs- Study Victoria: School District 61's International student exchange and homestay program for students in elementary school, middle school, and secondary school.
Jacqueline Perriam & Erik Abbink: Private music lessons in piano, saxophone, clarinet, flute, and recorder, for children and teens.
Libraries & COMMUNITY CENTRES
Public access library located on Monterey Avenue, near Oak Bay Village, and within the Monterey Recreation Centre. Find out more!
Recreation centre located in the Royal Oak neighbourhood. Features a weight room and fitness centre, and a large, olympic-sized pool and aquatics centre, including a wave pool and children’s pool. Also offers multi-use indoor courts for drop-in sports and space rentals as well as an onsite teens centre. Find out more!
Arts, Cultural Attractions & Festivals
Oak Bay/Gonzales hosts several small galleries, historical sites, and annual events including a gargantuan community garage sale, Halloween trick or treating, a half marathon, and a marathon that all involve the community and draw participants and spectators from other districts of Victoria. Click here for a list of them all. Following are just a few of Oak Bay/Gonzales district’s most widely-popular draws:
A free, annual 8-day, multi-venue festival starting with the Bowker Creek Brush Up, followed by a variety of family-friendly events at different locations across Oak Bay. Includes live music concerts, art shows, poetry, puppet shows, an outdoor movie, food, fun, and activities galore. Festivities take place over 8 select days that fall between August 9th through 23rd . Find out more.
Art in the Park! Every August 13th, Bowker Park becomes an art tour of sorts, where over 40 artists display their works along the Bowker Park walkway. The event includes live music and a charity-BBQ, commemorating the official kick-off or Arts and Culture Week. Find out more.
Luxury oceanfront resort built in a beautifully restored and refurbished historical English Manor style house. Resort includes and outdoor mineral pool and hot tubs overlooking the Juan de Fuca Strait. Find out more.
You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a vintage Yuletide in a little Old English village when you partake in the holiday spirit of Oak Bay Village’s annual Christmas Festival. Festivities start on the last Sunday of November and end on the first Saturday of December and include live music, food vendors, a bouncy castle, Christmas lights, a visit from Santa, and family activities that delight. Find out more.
1.4-acre, Japanese style gardens with serene ponds and an on-site tea house built inside a heritage home and managed by The Land Conservancy.. Find out more.
Located on Oak Bay Avenue in Oak Bay Village and next to Ottavio cafe, showcasing carefully curated fine-art collections and rotating exhibitions. Find out more.
Every summer on the first weekend in June, Willows Park becomes a festival, complete with a parade, amusement rides, bathtub race, and fun-filled activities for the whole family. Find out more.
Retail, GROCERY & DINING
Oak Bay Village: Oak Bay’s lovely shopping district! Local merchants, spas, salons, tea houses, galleries, boutiques, florists, home & garden stores, cafes, bakeries, restaurants and pubs--many of which are housed in heritage storefronts--line a few blocks of of Oak Bay Avenue. Penny Farthing Pub, White Heather Tea Room and Discovery Coffee are just a few of the village’s gems.
Athlone Court: Located at the furthermost end of Oak Bay Village, this English-Manor style town square houses a Fairway Market grocery store, florist, liquor store, cafe, and several other neighbourhood businesses and merchants.
Red Barn Market: Located in Oak Bay Village, Red Barn Market is a local favourite. It’s a small, country-style grocery chain known for the best deli wraps & sandwiches, fresh local produce, meat, seafood, Portofino breads, and specialty food products.
Fort & Foul Bay: Across from the Jubilee Hospital, where Fort Street and Foul Bay Road intersect, you’ll find a large Save-On-Foods grocery store, liquor store, and Starbucks Coffee.
Fairfield Village Shopping Centre: Located in the neighbouring Fairfield district, and just a short distance away from Oak Bay, this suburban stripmall offers plenty of storefront parking and neighbourhood-centric vendors including Thrifty Foods, a pub, hardware store, and more.
Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen: Sharing a terrazzo with the gallery, this artisan cafe, shop, and bakery will make you feel like you’re sipping cappuccinos in Sorrento.
Pure Vanilla Bakery & Cafe: Boutique bakery & cafe located on Cadboro Bay Road.
Accessibility
Village Life
Oak Bay and Gonzales have a Public Transit Score of 49 (with a few public transit routes that connect the areas with Downtown Victoria and neighbouring districts).
Proximity
Within 8 minutes' drive to Victoria’s downtown core | Within 5 minutes' drive to Royal Jubilee Hospital | Within 30 minutes’ drive to Victoria Airport and Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal | Within 10 minutes’ drive to Seaplane and Clipper Ferry terminals
Iconic Condo & Townhouse Communities
The Oak Bay and Gonzales districts are home to some of Victoria’s most prestigious homes and highly coveted oceanfront properties. You’ll find streets lined with old-growth Garry Oaks, pristine yards, and immaculately restored heritage and tudor-style homes and cottages. As you make your way towards the waterfront, you’ll also find plenty of condo buildings and modern beach houses. From cozy cottages and homes with understated elegance, to multi-million dollar oceanfront estates, Oak Bay and Gonzales offer a distinguished element to Island living for home shoppers with the most discerning of tastes. Following are a few of the Oak Bay/Gonzales area’s most iconic condo and townhouse developments!
Ideal for snowbirds and year-round residents seeking a comfortable property with all the amenities of a 5-star resort. Oak Bay Beach Hotel offers a limited number of 1, 2, and 2 bedroom + den beach or courtyard facing suites as well as 2-level lofts and penthouse suites. Search our MLS® Victoria search engine for condos for sale in the Oak Bay Beach Hotel - Private Residences.
Completed in 2017 by award winning builders Abstract Developments and located between Rockland neighbourhood and Oak Bay Avenue, this modern, four-level, boutique condo building offers a total of 18 luxury residences and 4 penthouse suites. Search our MLS® Victoria search engine for condos for sale in The Maddison building.
Another masterpiece from Abstract Developments, Bowker Collection offers highly-coveted and contemporary 1 and 2 bedroom + den suites, townhomes, and penthouses connected by a private, central garden and located in the Willows Beach neighbourhood. Search our MLS Victoria search engine for condos and townhouses for sale in the Bowker Collection.
Want to view discover new pre-sale opportunities?
Check out our Developments Page!
Shop for a Home in
downtown victoria
Considering a move to the sophisticated and friendly districts of Oak Bay and Gonzales? Townhouses, houses, and condos for sale in Oak Bay/Gonzales are hot commodities due to the desirability of these neighbourhoods and the lifestyle these areas offer. Don’t put off looking for your ideal abode. Get started with your search today with a Real Estate Expert. Here are some tips and resources to help get you started with your search!
PROPERTY SEARCH TIPS
If you’re seeking an oceanfront residence, or a home that’s just a few steps from the beach, when you use our MLS Victoria Search Engine to shop for properties in the Oak Bay/Gonzales area, also refer to the provided map for homes, townhouses and condos for sale which are situated along Beach Drive, Crescent Road, Hollywood Crescent, and their many little side streets. If you’d prefer to be steps away from the quaint Oak Bay Village, look for townhouses and condos for sale around Oak Bay Avenue, between the blocks of Richmond Avenue and Newport Avenue. Oak Bay Avenue, Lansdowne Road, and and Foul Bay Road, are the area’s main thoroughfares; albeit, they’re not as busy or noisy as thoroughfares downtown.
Have fun with your new home search, enjoy shopping and shortlisting your favourite ones, and when you’re ready, give us a call at (250) 382-6636 to arrange a viewing.
