Serpentarium Wildlife Park — Attraction in St Helens

On our first trip to St Helens, I took my 8-year-old son to the wildlife park, hoping it might spark his interest. During our week in town we ended up visiting twice—because the experience completely exceeded our expectations.

Mathew and Jen have created a truly special place that fosters both learning and hands-on interaction, benefiting not only visitors but also the animals in their care. From the moment we walked in and were greeted by Indian Star tortoises on their enrichment stroll, we knew this was something unique.

We met cherished pythons (including Mickey, the very friendly anaconda), lizards, a freshwater crocodile, wallabies, joeys, and even a bossy duck—each encounter was unforgettable. What surprised me most was my own transformation: I arrived content just to watch my son handle the snakes from a safe distance, yet left happily walking around with a python draped over my shoulders, admiring their “sweet and inquisitive” expressions.

Thank you, Mathew and Jen, for the time and passion you invested in sharing your knowledge with my son. Visiting twice in one week still wasn’t enough for him—he’s already begging me to plan our return...

We visited the Serpentarium on Friday 26th April 2024. We were warmly welcomed as soon as we walked in the door. All the staff were amazing. Vicky's snake talk was so interesting and informative. The animals enclosures were well set out and very clean. The animals looked all very healthy and well loved. The highlight was young Griffin, he was amazing and so knowledgeable about all the animals. He wandered around with the public and pop up and tell you lots of information and details about the animal you were looking at. He handled Dolly the snake in the interaction with the public, He was amazing with my daughter Erin and her cousin Issac, who are both Autistic teenagers, Griffin made the whole experience so personalised for them both, interacting with them so effortlessly while they held Dolly. Congratulations to you all for all your hard work in running this fantastic establishment. We will be recommending the Serpentarium to all our family and Friends and we will visit you again when ever we are down your way.

We are reptiles lovers and have three reptiles as pets in our own home. 1 is a Tasmanian She-Oak Skink, 1 Blue Tongue and 1...

I finally visited the Serpentarium in St Helens, and it was such an unexpected and educational experience! The place isn’t just a reptile display — it’s a real sanctuary where every animal is cared for with love and respect.

One of the highlights was holding a python for the first time — something I’d never imagine doing before. These snakes are non-venomous and handled only under full supervision from the staff. It felt safe, calm, and fascinating to learn how gentle these creatures can be.

It’s important to say: this experience is nothing like finding a snake in the wild. The Serpentarium is a controlled and ethical environment, and I’d never recommend trying this outside a sanctuary.

If you’re visiting Tasmania’s East Coast, this is definitely a place to stop by — especially if you want to challenge your fears, learn about wildlife conservation, and support a local sanctuary doing...