Australian Reptile Park, Australia's Best Attraction, Central Coast

This July, the Australian Reptile Park is turning up the fun – and the frost!

From 5–20 July 2025, they’re putting on a Winter Wonderland festival with a snowball zone! Yep, you read that right, at this frosty winter pop up, you can see snow AND build and toss snowballs right here on the Central Coast! They’ll even have a cute target wall plus buckets and handheld snowball makers to help you create the perfect launchers.

This is such exciting news. Forget bundling your family into the car and missioning it all the way down to the Snowy Mountains: your family can experience their first snow sighting right here on the Central Coast.

Plus they’re putting on a free jumping castle, giant snow globe and winter face painting (hello Elsa fans). And the best part? It’s all included as a bonus with your regular Australian Reptile Park entry ticket!

And, did you hear? Chilli the dingo had puppies, and for a very limited time you can do a Dingo Puppy Meet & Greet! These gorgeous fluffballs are growing fast, so if you want to meet them while they’re still pint-sized and cuddly, now’s the time.

And, don’t forget about their super popular Kids to Keeper program! It’s running on select days during the school holidays, and there are different programs for kids (and adults) aged 3-100!

Scroll down for more details or use the link below to grab your discounted entry tickets… if you book online, you save up to 22%!

Visit the Australian Reptile Park website here

*The Australian Reptile Park. Images supplied.*

Here’s what animals you’ll see at the Australian Reptile Park

The Australian Reptile Park is home to a host of furry, scaly and spiky residents, and unlike the name suggests, it’s not home only to reptiles. Here, you’ll see you’ll see Galapagos tortoises, echidnas, cassowaries, Komodo dragons, Tassie devils, koalas, venomous snakes & spiders and so much more. This is the place to see Australia’s native animals, plus reptiles, amphibians and spiders from around the world.

Recently awarded ‘Australia’s Best Tourist Attraction’ at the 2023 Qantas Tourism Awards, the Park is heralded for the hands-on, interactive experiences it offers visitors. Each day, they host a huge range of shows and encounters, including Walks with a Galapagos Tortoise, Komodo Dragon or Dingo, Elvis the Crocodile Feeds, Tasmanian Devil and Koala Talks, Lorikeet Feeds, Reptile Shows and more. See the full schedule here. It’s these personal up-close encounters that make a day at the Australian Reptile Park so spesh.

See snake milking at the Weigel Venom Centre and learn about the anti-venom program

In 2024 an industry-leading Venom Facility was built at the Australian Reptile Park, and visitors now have the unique opportunity to witness snake milkings and the critical work behind the production of anti-venom.

Why is it here? Well, wonderfully, the Australian Reptile Park played a vital role the development of life-saving snake and spider anti-venom, and it remains the only zoo in Australia with snake- and spider-venom milking programs. Since the project’s launch in the 1950s, more than 25,000 lives have been saved thanks to its venom program.

Entry to the Weigel Venom Centre is included in your entry ticket.

Animal encounters at the Australian Reptile Park

From cuddling dingo pups to watching venom extractions that help save lives, the Australian Reptile Park’s daily Animal Encounters give visitors a behind-the-scenes pass that turns a regular day at the zoo into something truly memorable – with cuddles, close-ups and animal encounters the kids will be talking about for weeks.

These special encounters run every day and can be pre-booked online or booked on the day (if space allows) – and with so many visitors keen for a cuddle or a croc-feed, we recommend getting in early.

You’ll get the chance to meet some of the Park’s most iconic residents – think sleepy koalas, cheeky reptiles, massive crocs, and even off-display critters rarely seen by the public. Whether you’re posing for a photo with a baby alligator, hand-feeding a cassowary, or patting a dingo pup, there’s something here for every kind of animal lover (from wide-eyed preschoolers to thrill-seeking grown-ups).

Some encounters are included in general admission, while others are special add-ons – but trust us, they’re worth every cent. Just don’t delay… dingo pups don’t stay tiny for long!

More info here: Animal Encounters

Dingo Encounter (for people aged 4+)

Snuggle, play and get up close with dingo puppies in this hands-on experience.

Koala Encounter (for people aged 4+)

Meet, pat and get some special selfies with a koala.

Reptile HQ (for people aged 4+)

Enjoy an exclusive tour of the Reptile Headquarers. Meet off-display reptiles, hold a lizard and a snake and learn from the Park’s expert keepers.

NEW Venom Encounter (for people aged 6+)

Enjoy an up-close, behind-the-scenes snake milking and a funnel web milking. See a first aid demo and experience a guided tour of the snake pits and Spider World.

Aussie Animals Encounter (for people aged 4+)

Meet some adorable Aussie critters up close, including koalas, echidnas, Tawny frogmouths, and kangaroos plus, feed Cooper the Cassowary in this 50-minute encounter.

Behind the Scenes Tour (for people aged 4+)

Get exclusive behind the scenes access to meet Hugo the Tortoise, cute and cuddly koalas, scaly reptiles and the deadly funnel web spider!

Photo Experiences (all ages)

Pose for a photo with an adorable koala, baby alligator, Burmese python or a Tawny frogmouth. Throughout the year there may be opportunities to have a snap taken with one of the zoo’s youngest residents, such as a Tasmanian devil joey or a dingo pup.

Elvis VIP Encounter (Strictly 18+)

Did you know that you can pole-feed the Park’s 4.75-metre-long crocodile, Elvis?! Know an adrenaline junkie or someone who has everything? Gift them this!

Unlike the other Animal Encounters, this experience is run on Sundays only.

Book an Animal Encounter here

Want to be a zookeeper for a day? They have a Kids to Keeper program for all ages and abilities that runs in school holidays and select weekends

If your child’s ever dreamed of working with animals, here’s their chance to step into the job – even if it’s just for a day!

The Australian Reptile Park’s Kids 2 Keeper program is a hands-on experience that takes people (aged 3+) behind the scenes for a day in the life of a real zookeeper. It’s one of the Park’s most popular offerings for school holidays – and it books out fast.

There are different levels depending on your child’s age, and the program is designed to be accessible, engaging and packed with animal cuddles. Even better? You can use your NSW Active Kids voucher toward the cost.

More info here: Kids 2 Keeper Program

Mini Kids 2 Keeper (Ages 3–6)

This 90-minute adventure is perfect for preschoolers and their grown-ups. Kids will meet tortoises and other scaly friends, pat fluffy koalas, and see and feed Australian birds and kangaroos. Cost: $66.99 per person (each child must be accompanied by a paying adult).

Little Kids 2 Keeper (Ages 7–12)

This 4-hour tour is packed with interactive activities for primary-aged wildlife lovers. It’s a proper “junior zookeeper” experience, minus the mop and bucket! Kids will meet snakes, lizards and Hugo the Galapagos tortoise, pat fluffy koalas, get VIP viewing access to the Elvis the Crocodile Show, hand-feed kangaroos and help with Tasmanian devil enrichment prep. Cost: $99.99 per child.

Big Kids 2 Keeper (Ages 13–18)

A full-day experience for teens who are serious about wildlife! It’s hands-on, immersive, and gives participants the chance to step into a keeper’s boots (and gloves). Your teen will get hands-on interaction with snakes, lizards, tortoises and alligators, feed koalas, kangaroos and lorikeets, enter the Park’s venom rooms and learn about their life-saving venom program and gain experience in animal enrichment, hygiene routines and enclosure design. Plus, they’ll get to show off their new skills by presenting an animal at the Keeper Kids Show at 3.30pm! Cost: $144.99 per participant

Inclusive Kids 2 Keeper (Ages 7–18, for kids with additional needs)

Inclusive Kids 2 Keeper is a brand-new zookeeper experience designed to be inclusive and accessible for kids with sensory-processing disorders, autism, or reduced mobility. Hosted by three experienced zookeepers, this hands-on tour will get kids up close to tawny frogmouths, Australian reptiles, koalas, kangaroos, echidnas and more. The experience commences at 8am (before the Park opens to the general public) so that participants can enjoy their hands-on time with reptiles and birds without noises and distractions from other visitors. Cost: $120 (one ticket is valid for admission of one child AND one carer).

Adult Keeper for a Day (Ages 18+)

Why should the kids have all the fun? This immersive, all-day tour gives adults a rare chance to go behind the scenes at the Reptile Park. You’ll get to hold snakes, lizards, frogs, alligators, birds and mammals and learn correct handling skills, plus there’s the opportunity to explore the venom rooms, prep animal enrichment, assist with exhibit care and feed some of the residents. Cost: $224.99 per person.

Book a Kids to Keeper Experience here

Make a day of it at the Australian Reptile Park!

The Australian Reptile Park is an attraction that invites you to stay and play all day long. As well as all of the experiences outlined above, they have a fabulous children’s adventure playground, plus free BBQs and picnic areas, so you can BYO lunch and make a real day of it.

For those who want to pack light, they also have a cafe that sells hot food, snacks, ice creams and coffee.

We recommend you carve out a day to visit these holidays.

Are you a local Coastie? Get an annual pass!

If you’re a local Coastie, get an Australian Reptile Park annual pass, so you can visit again and again on the cheap. You only need visit twice to make back the cost! AND their epic playground alone is worth the ticket!

Annual Pass gives you:

Unlimited entry for 12 months
50% discount for accompanying additional visitors (max. 2 guests per pass, per visit)
10% off Kids 2 Keeper and Behind the Scenes experiences
10% off kids’ birthday party packages
One voucher for an animal photo experience and 6 x 8” colour print (1 voucher per pass)
10% at the Australian Reptile Gift Shop

Get an annual pass here