How to take your family to the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show on a budget
Heading to the Show? Here’s how to enjoy the rides, food, showbags and activities without breaking the bank, and snare some freebies on opening day.
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The Melbourne Royal Show’s 175th birthday celebrations start on September 21, with attendees to be treated to a range of party favours.
Two-for-one ride vouchers and 2000 free showbags – half of them Bertie Beetle Blue and the other half, Wizz Fizz – will be handed out to kids from 11.15am in the Main Arena.
Tickets to the event’s opening days are still available, but this weekend is filling up fast.
Melbourne Royal chief executive Brad Jenkins said every day of the biggest Show yet offered “up to 11 hours of fun, excitement and entertainment”.
More than 150 activities and experiences are included in the entry price, with Mr Jenkins naming the expanded Animal Nursery as one attendees shouldn’t miss for a chance to “get up close to roaming farm animals”.
See inside all 395 showbags on offer at the 2023 Melbourne Royal Show
“Jurassic Unearthed is also a new free attraction that brings to life massive prehistoric creatures,” he said.
“(Visitors should) wander through arts, craft and cookery pavilion and marvel at the talents, skill and incredible creations from decorated cakes, crochet, woodwork, sculpture and art – we’ve had more than 3800 entries this year.
“Plus, there are fun free activities to do in the ‘create space’ for kids.”
Mr Jenkins also picked the Bluey Live Interactive Experience and freestyle motocross stunt shows as highlights of the daily entertainment line-up.
“Bluey will be on stage for two 30 minute shows every day,” he said.
“And no where else in the world can you get so close to the action, as the freestyle motocross riders fly high three times a day.”
Governor-General David Hurley will officially open the Show in the Horses in Action Arena at 11.30am. This will be followed by a fly-past performed by the RAAF Roulettes and the historic No. 100 Squadron, and 100 personnel from the Federation Guard marching alongside the Air Force Band.
Sneaky Sound System will round out the opening day by playing the first of 11 “After Dark” gigs at 8pm.
The four-day Melbourne Royal Woodchop Championships will also kick off today, while Australia’s finest showjumpers will guide their horses over jumps up to 1.6m high in a bid to be the fastest around the course.
The Show runs until October 1.
Visit the Melbourne Royal Show on a budget: September 21 to October 1
How to get cheaper tickets:
Tickets for adults cost $47.50, concession, $34 and children aged five to 14, $25 (children under five go free). But a family pass is the way to go for visitors with kids, costing $99 (just $4 more than two adult passes).
Entry after 4pm costs just $29 for adults and $15 for children.
How to get cheaper rides:
You can save up to 25 per cent by pre-purchasing a Rides Pass, which are available from $40. A miniature railway ride is free for kids.
Kids can score two-for-one ride vouchers from the Main Arena from 11.15am on September 21.
Best value showbags:
About a quarter of the 395 showbags on offer cost less than $10.
The cheapest are Wizz Fizz Lil Fizz Bag, Rip Snorter Brain Blaster Bag and Rip Snorter Little Ripper Bag (all $4), plus Bertie Beetle Blue and a bunch of Cadbury offerings are $5.
The best value are Marie Claire (costs $30, value of $486.59), Women’s Health ($30, $452.11) and Australian Women’s Weekly ($25, $446.53).
Melbourne Royal is giving away 1000 Bertie Beetle Blue and 1000 Wizz Fizz showbags to kids from 11.15am on September 21.
Free activities:
Entry price to the Show includes access to more than 150 experiences and activities.
Among these are farm and animal experiences like the Animal Nursery petting zoo, working dogs in the Rural Pavilion, and sheep shearing and milking experiences in the Pura Pavilion.
There’s also daily entertainment, including an After Dark line-up of Australian acts (Sneaky Sound System, Bliss n Eso, Eskimo Joe and more), Bello Nock’s Comic Daredevil Spectacular, Airtime Freestyle Motocross Stunt Show, a Paramount+ Parade and a Bluey Interactive Experience.
There are Arts & Crafts activities and displays in the Spotlight Makers Pavilion, and the Jurassic Unearthed animatronics exhibition.
Cheap eats:
With the exception of packing your own picnic, the most affordable Show fare includes a $4 cheese toastie from the Melt Shop, sausage rolls ranging from $6 (Big Red Bus) to $9 (Wonder Pies), $8 slices from a Dominos stand near the ferris wheel, and $8 smoked brisket and chicken tacos from Dingo Ate My Taco.
The Dough Truck offers doughnuts from $3, while the CWA kitchen will serve up $6.50 scones with jam and cream along with other affordable savoury dishes.
Getting to the Show:
Metro will run 1362 extra train services departing every 10 minutes to and from the Showgrounds, via Flinders St, Southern Cross and North Melbourne Stations.
Yarra Trams will also run extra Route 57 services from 8.30am-10.30pm each day.
Other options are the 404 and 472 bus services and driving, with parking costing $25.
For more information visit royalshow.com.au/show-guide-2023
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