The Australian Reptile Park
The Australian Reptile Park
Description
The Australian Reptile Park is a hands-on Central Coast wildlife park near Sydney — an easy hour up the M1 to Somersby, and the most beloved old-school family day out in NSW. It's home to Elvis the saltwater crocodile (just under 5 metres, famous for stealing his keeper's lawnmower), Australia's only commercial venom-milking lab, and a daily program of free animal shows that genuinely thrills primary-aged kids.
Why We Love It
The Elvis croc show runs at 1pm on weekends and is the unmissable highlight — an enormous saltie launching out of the water for his lunch.
Daily snake and spider milking demos from the working antivenom lab, where keepers extract venom from taipans, browns and funnel-webs that literally saves Australian lives.
Free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies hop right through the picnic grounds, so toddlers can get up close to native wildlife without a fence in the way.
A full daily show schedule from 9:30am to 2:30pm including koala talks, reptile shows, Komodo dragon walks, echidna talks and Tasmanian devil feeding — all free with admission.
Free undercover BBQs and picnic lawns mean you can BYO and turn it into an easy full-day visit without paying cafe prices.
Free wheelchair hire from reception plus an accessible unisex bathroom with child change table, so the park works for multi-generational visits.
Free onsite parking right at the gate with overflow opening in peak periods — no parking fees, no street-hunting, no fuss.
Good To Know
Tips
Book online to save: Online tickets are about $5-10 cheaper per person than gate prices, and family passes save up to 21%. Tickets are valid for 90 days from your booking date, so weather flexibility is built in.
NRMA member tickets: Reptile Park tickets are sold through the NRMA ClubConnect benefits portal (benefits.mynrma.com.au) — sign in to see the exact member saving. NRMA's broader attractions program advertises up to ~15% off across 3,000+ attractions.
Grab the show timetable on arrival: Free shows run 9:30am to 2:30pm including snake milking, reptile shows, koala talks and Tasmanian devil feeding. Mapping them out early stops you missing the must-sees.
Bring a hat and sunscreen: Lots of outdoor walking between enclosures. There's shade at picnic areas and benches, but paths in between get plenty of sun.
Allow 3-5 hours: Most families spend a half-day here — the rhythm is built around the free shows so don't try to rush a 2-hour visit.
Free BBQs and picnic-friendly: Electric BBQs in the picnic grounds are free to use; you can also reserve one for a small fee by calling reception. Hard Croc Cafe is on-site (9am-4pm) with vegan and gluten-free options if you don't want to BYO.
Drive only, no public transport: About an hour / 50km from Sydney CBD up the M1, exit at Gosford and the park is signposted 2 minutes off the freeway. Nearest train station is Gosford, but you'll still need a car or taxi from there.
Closed Christmas Day: Open every other day of the year, 9am-5pm, with indoor exhibits starting to close from 4:30pm.
Parking Options
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Price (Per Person)
Free (under 3) - $49.99
Opening Hours
- Monday
- 9am - 5pm
- Tuesday
- 9am - 5pm
- Wednesday
- 9am - 5pm
- Thursday
- 9am - 5pm
- Friday
- 9am - 5pm
- Saturday
- 9am - 5pm
- Sunday
- 9am - 5pm