Your ultimate guide to the 2018 Royal Melbourne Show
A DAY at the Royal Melbourne Show is a highlight of the year for many Victorian families. Here’s the ultimate guide to making the most of the Show.
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EVERYONE loves the Royal Melbourne Show.
To make the most of your visit in 2018 here’s everything you need to know to plan a fun day, from parking, tickets and rides to handy tips and tricks for families and thrillseekers.
And don’t forget to make the most of the rides, food, showbags, animal encounters and performances that the Show is all about!
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Royal Melbourne Show 2018 dates and opening hours
The Show will be running from: 22 September — 2 October 2018.
Gates open: 9:30am- 9:00pm daily.
Pavilions open at 10:00am.
For a full list of opening times click here.
Royal Melbourne Show ticket prices
General Admission:
Adults — $40 ea
Concession* — $26 ea
Child (5-14 years) — $20 ea
Family A (2 adults, 2 children) — $80
Family B — (1 adult, 3 children) — $70
Children under 4 years and under — Free
All tickets are available online
*Concession includes seniors, secondary and tertiary school students, students of agriculture, pensioners and health care card holders (with valid ID)
Where to buy Royal Melbourne Show tickets
Tickets can be bought online at the Royal Melbourne Show website.
Tickets can also be bought at selected Woolworths stores for the duration of the show.
RACV members can purchase tickets at certain RACV shops.
General admission tickets can be purchased from one of these 15 Metro premium train stations.
Special offers
Pre-book your tickets online by September 21 to save up to 20% on gate prices.
RACV members can save up to 30% on entry. Offer ends 9pm on September 21.
Save up to 30% on rides when you book online.
Get 50% off on admission by entering the Show after 5pm.
Group bookings save up to 30% until 14th of September.
Save 10% on adult and child tickets when you purchase at participating Woolworths stores
How to get to the Melbourne Showgrounds
How to get to the Melbourne Showgrounds by car
The Melbourne Show will be at the Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale alternatively you can search “Flemington Racecourse car park” using Google maps.
Royal Melbourne Show Parking
Parking spots are limited at the Showgrounds. Parking costs $25 a day. Entry to the car park is via Epsom Rd or Smithfield Rd, with access to the show via the rail underpass. Epsom Rd car park entrance is open 8am-8pm, Smithfield Rd car park entrance is open from 9.30-1pm.
From the west: Take Ballarat Rd or the Princes Hwy to Smithfield Rd to enter the Flemington Racecourse car park
From the east: Take Brunswick Rd/Maribyrnong Rd to Epsom Rd to enter the Flemington Racecourse car park
From the north: Take Brunswick Rd/Maribyrnong Rd to Epsom Rd to enter the Flemington Racecourse car park
From the south: Take Footscray Rd, Whitehall St, Moore St to Smithfield Rd to enter the Flemington Racecourse car park
From the City: Take Dynon Rd, Moore St to Smithfield Rd to enter the Flemington Racecourse car park
Handy tip: Keep an eye-out for other parking spots along the way. In recent years, surrounding schools and leisure centres have opened up their grounds for punters to park on for a fee. Some locals in nearby streets also charge a fee for punters to use their driveways and property to park on. Don’t forget to have some cash handy!
How to get to the Melbourne Showgrounds by train:
Trains to Melbourne Showgrounds run from Flinders St station (Generally platforms 8/9) stopping at Southern Cross (generally platform 14) and North Melbourne stations (Generally platform 6). Train services start at 9.10am and run regularly throughout the day. The last train to the city departs Melbourne Showgrounds at 10.30pm.
V/line customers with tickets to the 2018 Royal Melbourne Show will be entitled to travel economy off-peak return for %15 from any destination on the Vline network. More information here.
How to get to the Melbourne Showgrounds by tram:
Catch the Route 57 from Stop 1 Elizabeth st/Flinders st to stop 32 Sandown Rd/Epsom Rd. Extra trams will run every day of the show. Services start at 6am Monday-Saturday and 7.44am on Sunday. You can use the PTV website to track tram arrivals/departures.
How to get to the Melbourne Showgrounds by bus:
Catch the 404 service from Footscray to Moonee Ponds. Catch the 472 service from Williamstown to Moonee Ponds. These services run regularly to Melbourne Showgrounds. You can use the PTV website to track tram arrivals/departures.
Where are the entry gates?
There are 5 entry gates to the show.
Gate 1 is located on Epsom Rd.
Gate 10 is located next to the Showgrounds train station.
Gate 9 is located next to the car park.
Gate 7 is located on Leonard Cres.
Gate 5 is located on Langs Rd.
For a map of the Showground, click here
When are the Royal Melbourne Show fireworks?
The fireworks can be seen at the Herald Sun arena each night.
The firework shows run from 7:45pm — 8:00pm daily
Note — the fireworks are weather dependent and you will be notified if the fireworks cannot go ahead due to weather conditions.
Royal Melbourne Show rides
Coca-Cola Thrillseekers Carnival
Daredevils can head to the Coca-Cola Thrillseekers Carnival for all the latest adrenaline-charged rides! There will be show favourite the ‘Kamikaze’, as well as dodgems cars, bungee trampolines, the ‘sky flyer’ and more. To check out the full list of rides and prices, click here.
Various ticket prices and packages are available.
Recommended age: 15 +
Open from 9.30-9pm.
Family Adventure Carnival
For rides the whole family can enjoy, make your way to the Family Adventure Carnival. Fly across the skies on the Cliff Hanger or head to the new Hurricane Ride for a whirling, twirling ride.
Various ticket prices and packages are available. To check out the full list of rides and prices, click here.
Recommended age: 6 to 16
Open from 9.30-9pm.
Kids Carnival
Little ride enthusiasts under six will find all their fun in the Kids’ Carnival next to the Animal Nursery. Jump aboard the Mini Ferris Wheel, tear around the Race’o’rama track or ride the Happy Kangaroo, a hopping adventure that’s fun for the whole family!
To check out the full list of rides and prices, click here.
Recommended Age: 2 to 5
Open daily from 09:30am — 8:00pm.
Useful tips and tricks
Information booths
Open from 9.30am to 9pm daily and at various locations across the showgrounds.
Parent rooms
Open from 9.30am to 9pm daily. Check out the map to see the various locations.
Pram and wheelchair hire
Prams are available for hire from stands on the Nine News Boulevard near the Winning Tastes Pavilion and near the Coca-Cola Thrillseekers Carnival, opposite the sky wheel for $15 per day.
Wheelchairs can be hired from information booths for 5 per hour with a credit card required as a deposit.
Lost property
Lost property can be retrieved from the lost persons centre under the Pie in the Sky. Open from 9.30-9pm daily.
Lockers
Lockers are available for $2 a day for one use only and from $10 for all day use.
Bring some water
Walking is thirsty work. Make sure to bring a bottle water to refill across the day.
Have some cash handy
Don’t get caught by long ATM lines and some shops with no EFT, bring some spare cash for emergencies.
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