A Guide to Visiting Reptilia

Located just north of Toronto in the city of Vaughan, Reptilia is an indoor reptile and amphibian zoo, 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 displays, animals and knowledgeable staff at your service.

2501 Rutherford Road, Vaughan
Phone: (905) 761-6223
Toll Free: 1-888-REPTILIA (737-8454)
Website: Reptilia.org

Just like the Toronto Zoo, Reptilia is closed on Christmas Day. Otherwise, the retail store and zoo are both open from 10am everyday of the week, closing at 8pm Monday to Friday, 6pm on weekends and 5pm on holidays.

How much does it cost to visit the Reptilia zoo?

• General admission (ages 16+) $12
• Children (ages 4-15) $8
• Babies/Toddlers (ages 0-3) FREE
• *Above prices do not include tax

Groups of four people or more can take advantage of Family Passes that will save you $7-$10 dollars.

Reptilia's retail store is always free to visit, so stop by anytime to get reptile care advice and purchase animals and supplies.

Reptilia has several birthday party packages available or can be hired to bring a variety of animals to your home.

Summer and winter day camps for children aged 4-12 run Monday to Friday for several weeks throughout the year. The camps include not only an educational experience with the reptiles and amphibians, but also more traditional day camp activities such as crafts and sports.

Other special events may be scheduled by groups, such as guided tours or the special flashlight tours that keep the lights low so nocturnal zoo residents will come to life. Consult the website for details.

The store serves as both a gift shop and a supply store for hobbyists. In the gift shop category, there's everything from stuffed animals, magnets and t-shirts to home decor for inside and out.

For hobbyists, there are the terrariums, lights, and other equipment to get you set-up, plenty of books to help you educate yourself, a variety of food (including the 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 very likely buy.

With a focus on education, staff and animals from Reptilia 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.

Because it's in the City of Vaughan, Reptilia is not serviced directly by Toronto transit. There are several routes that connect to York Region Transit if you're willing to pay the second fare.

One option is to take the TTC to Downsview Station and get on 107C, 107D, or 107F Keele Northbound. This bus will go all the way up to Rutherford Road, but you'll have to pay an additional $3 York Region Transit fare to ride it that far. Be sure to get a transfer so you can get on York Region Transit's westbound 85 Rutherford bus, which stops right near Reptilia.

• TTC website
• YRT.ca - TTC in York Region

Okay, so getting from Toronto to Reptilia on transit can be complicated, but driving it couldn't be easier.

Get on Highway 400 North. Just a few exits north of the 407 is the exit for Rutherford Road. Exit onto Rutherford Road heading eastbound, passing the giant Vaughan Mills Mall. Drive for about five minutes and you'll 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.

The Reptilia zoo and retail store are entirely indoors and are wheelchair accessible. Camp programs may go off-site however, so if you are interested in taking part in these or other special events, you should call ahead to investigate the specifics.

Want to know what to expect when you get there?

Weighing in at about 1500 pounds between the two of them, Nile crocodiles Induna and Nandi are two of the most eye-catching residents of Reptilia (and they ones who are saved until the end). Be sure to look up above the enclosure to see the giant crates from their international.

But you don't have to be big to be noticeable. Much closer to the entrance, Bright Blue Poison Dart Frogs are on display, as are a variety lizards, turtles and tortoises.

Snakes of all sizes lay in wait for their next meal - vipers, constrictors and rattlers are all on hand. Speaking of meals, if you're interested in seeing a feeding you can check the online schedule to make sure you're in the right place at the right time. But if you're squeamish about seeing a mouse or rat being swallowed whole, you may want to stick to the lizards and their crickets.