Celebrating 201 years, The Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s largest annual ticketed event, attracting over 828,000 attendees on average. On this year from 22 March – 2 April at the Sydney Showground, here’s everything you need to know about it.
Let’s talk $$
$293. That’s how much we reckon you need to “do” the Easter Show as a family of 4 this year ($12 more than last year). Yes, you could spend more without batting an eyelid, but our guide is about avoiding blowouts.
Budget
- Tickets – buy early bird tickets online = $110
- Getting there – public transport is included in ticket price = $0
- Carnival Fun Pass Ticket (new) 60 credits = $68 (All carnival rides require 4 or more credits)
- Show bags (2 per child) = $80
- Food – snacks only (BYO lunch) = $35
TOTAL: $293
Let’s go into detail
Tickets
- The Family Pass (2 adults, 2 kids) is $110 until 21 March 2024 so buy tickets now
- Entry is free for children 3 years and under
- The last day of the show is known as Kids Day and tickets are $16 and rides are 2 for 1
Getting There
- The cost of public transport is included in the ticket price and transport is regular
- All the information about bus and train routes can be found here
Free Fun
- Good news – once you walk through the gates, most of the entertainment is free! From arts & crafts to patting farmyard animals, displays of milking cows or shearing sheep and competitions such as wood chopping and horse riding – there is loads to see and do
- Kids will love the animal walk, the farmyard nursery and the Woolworths Dome
Rides
- A Carnival Fun Pass is the only way to pay and play at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show.
- Simply Tap & Ride / Tap & Play across the carnival, just like an Opal card. You can load credits onto a Carnival Fun Pass by downloading the Easter Show Carnival Fun Pass App and purchasing credits.
- All carnival rides require 4 or more credits.
- Prices are as follows:
- 30 credits $36
- 60 credits $68 (save $4.00)
- 90 credits $93 (save $15.00)
- 130 credits $123 (save $33.00)
- Read the full FAQ’s here
Food
- If you’re on a budget or trying to eat healthily, definitely pack lunch and drinks
- There are free water refill stations throughout the show
- For a bargain lunch, look for the food truck selling cheese toasties for $3 and a 300ml Moove for $3.50 – winning! (as at 2020)
- This year you can enjoy a $5 sausage sizzle with all proceeds going to charity – see more here.
- As a guide, a bag of fairy floss is $5, a cup of Lemonade is $5, Cheese on a Stick is $5, a bottle of water is $5 and soft drink is $5.50 (as at 2020)
Showbags
Research show bags in advance to see if you can get a step ahead when it comes to negotiating with the kids. Here is the show bag guide – you can filter by kids bags
Stay Strong!
Before you enter the show, explain to the kids exactly how the day will run, how many show bags you’re willing to buy, whether or not they can have fairy floss etc. Maybe they can decide between a treat and a balloon or another version of Easter show temptation. Be upfront and stick to your guns, kindly of course! 🙂
