Located just north of Toronto in the city of Vaughan, Reptilia is a zoo covered in reptiles and amphibians, which also houses a retail store. If you want to spend a day viewing or learning about these fascinating creatures, or are serious about providing a home for a reptile or amphibian as a pet, Reptilia has exhibits, animals, and knowledgeable staff at your service.
2501 Rutherford Road, Vaughan
Phone: (905) 761-6223
Website: Reptilia.org
Reptilia hours of operation
Like the Toronto Zoo, Reptilia is closed on Christmas Day. Otherwise, the retail store and zoo are open from 10 am every day of the week, closing at 6 pm Monday through Sunday and 5 pm on holidays.
Admission to the Reptilia Zoo
How much does it cost to visit the Reptilia Zoo?
- General Admission (Ages 13-64) $ 16 *
- Children (2 to 12 years old) $ 11 *
- Seniors (over 65s) $ 13 *
- Babies / Toddlers (under 2 years old) FREE *
Alternatively, annual memberships are also available. Call or visit for details.
* Please note that the above prices do not include taxes and are subject to change. You can confirm the current price by calling Reptilia or visiting the Reptilia website.
Reptilia’s retail store is always free to visit, so stop by anytime for advice on reptile care and shopping for animals and supplies.
Special events and programming
Reptilia has several birthday party packages available or they can be contracted to bring a variety of animals into your home.
Summer and winter camps for children ages 4 to 12 run for several weeks throughout the year. Camps include not only an educational experience with reptiles and amphibians (handling, food preparation, etc.), but also more traditional day camp activities such as reptile-related crafts and games.
Other special events can be scheduled by groups, such as guided tours or special flashlight tours that keep the lights low to bring the zoo’s nocturnal residents to life.
Reptilia Retail Store
The store serves as a gift shop and a hobbyist supply store. In the gift shop category, there is everything from stuffed animals, magnets, and t-shirts, to home décor inside and out.
For hobbyists, there are terrariums, lights, and other equipment to prepare it, many books to help educate yourself, a variety of foods (including supplies to raise your own crickets), and of course the animals themselves. .
If you love reptiles and amphibians, or are trying to buy a gift for someone who does, the Reptilia store is a great place to browse and most likely shop. Trained staff are always available for anyone who has a question about an animal they already own or are interested in owning.
Other services
With a focus on education, Reptilia staff and animals can be booked to travel to schools or other organizations to give presentations. They also work with film and television production crews when animals are needed on set.
Get to Reptilia by public transport
Because it is located in the city of Vaughan, Reptilia does not have direct transit service from Toronto. There are several routes that connect to York Region Transit if you are willing to pay the second fare.
One option is to take the TTC to Downsview Station and take 107C, 107D or 107F Keele heading north. This bus will go up to Rutherford Road, but you will have to pay an additional York Region Transit fee to travel there. Be sure to get a transfer so you can catch the 85 Rutherford Westbound bus from York Region Transit, which stops near Reptilia.
- TTC website
- YRT.ca – TTC in the York region
Driving Reptilia
Okay so getting from Toronto to Reptilia in transit can be tricky, but driving it couldn’t be easier. Merge onto Highway 400 North. Just a few exits north of 407 is the Rutherford Road exit. Exit Rutherford Road heading east, past the giant Vaughan Mills shopping center. Drive for about five minutes and you will see Reptilia. Just look for the big green banners on the south side of the road, past the WEGZ Stadium Bar.
Enter the parking lot from Rutherford Road. Parking is free.
Accessibility
The Reptilia Zoo and retail store are completely indoors and are wheelchair accessible. However, camping programs can go off-site, so if you are interested in participating in these or other special events, you should call ahead to research the details.
Reptile animals
Do you want to know what to expect when you get there? There are many unique and interesting animals to visit at Reptila, including the huge Nile crocodile, a highlight due to its size. There are also Asian water monitors, black-throated monitors, snapping turtles, pygmy alligators, and a variety of lizards to see.
Snakes of all sizes await their next meal – vipers, pythons, constrictors, and rattlesnakes are readily available. Speaking of meals, if you’re interested in watching a feed, you can check the schedule online to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time. But if you’re squeamish about seeing a mouse or rat swallow it whole, you might want to stick with the lizards and their crickets.
Updated by Jessica Padykula
