How to Have a Great Family Day Out at the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show

Australia’s biggest celebration of the country, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is back for 2023 with tickets on sale now. Although the show is described as an agricultural show, it’s much more than that.

Presented by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is a celebration of rural and agricultural industry dating back to 1823 and includes animal displays, award-winning produce and crafts, amusement rides and showbags.

This is a popular event for families as it gives them an opportunity to enjoy a taste of the country in the middle of the city. Many families travel to Sydney to experience this fun event.

Here are our best tips to save money, save time and enjoy the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show with your kids.

When is the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show?

This year, the Sydney Royal Easter Show runs from Thursday 6 April to Monday 17 April, 2023. Gates open at 8:30am each day and the show concludes each night at 9pm. Most pavillions open at 9am.

Where is the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show?

Sydney Royal Easter Show is at Sydney Olympic Park. Sydney Olympic Park is conveniently serviced by trains, buses and ferries and this year the cost of public transport (services detailed below) is included in the price of your ticket for the 2023 Show. 

Simply show your SRES ticket or approved pass to the NSW Transport guard or equivalent and they will provide access to the transport service. To plan your trip visit TransportNSW.

Car parks are in high demand but you can pre-book your parking. It’s highly recommended to pre-book to save yourself the stress of trying to find a park once you get to Olympic Park. Pre-booked parking through Sydney Olympic Park is $30 for the whole day.

How much are Sydney Royal Easter Show tickets?

The regular ticket price is $47 for adults, $29.50 for children and $36.50 for concession. A family pass (four tickets) is $126.

Tickets for the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show are only available online via Ticketmaster. Public transport is included in the ticket and you will need to select the date of attending.

How to save money on 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show tickets?

Sydney Royal Easter Show tickets are available online via Ticketmaster only. There are a number of ways to save money on tickets:

1. Buy Early Bird tickets before midnight 5 April 2023. The Early Bird ticket prices are $41 for adults, $25 for children, $30.50 for concession or $106 for a family of 4. EARLY BIRD PRICING NOW ENDED.
2. Buy Kids’ Day Tickets for entry on Monday 17 April 2023. Kids’ Day ticket prices are $41 for adults, $15 for children and $30.50 for concession. Kid’s Day offers amazing value with kids getting in for half price. They can also get 2 for 1 carnival rides on this day.
3. Buy After 4pm Tickets (Valid for entry after 4pm). Earlybird Twilight tickets are $34 for adults, $15 for children and $25 for concession. Enjoy over 5 hours of fun as you watch the sun go down at the Royal Sydney Easter Show.
4. Buy Seniors’ Day tickets on Wednesday 12 April 2023. If you want to go with grandparents, Seniors receive tickets for $20 on this day.

Is public transport included in my Sydney Royal Easter Show ticket?

Yes, 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show tickets include return travel on public transport between Thursday, 6 April and Monday, 17 April 2023 inclusive. Simply show your Sydney Royal Easter Show ticket or approved pass to the NSW Transport guard or equivalent and they will provide access to the transport service.

Please do not tap your Opal Card or you will be charged as normal for the journey. Remember to keep your ticket safe for your return journey home as a valid ticket is required when travelling on public transport.

Details on extra services and major event buses running during the Show, plus additional transport options are available at transportnsw.info.

How much are carnival coupons at the Royal Easter Show?

The Sydney Royal Easter Show carnival have moved away from the traditional paper coupons for carnival rides and games to the easy-to-use Carnival Fun Pass.

To get started today, download the 2023 Easter Show Fun Pass app, load credits and pick up your Carnival Fun Pass when you arrive at the Show, activate and you’re away.

Once the Pass is loaded with credits you simply Tap & Ride and Tap & Play across the carnival, just like your NSW Opal card. You can tap and play all day with your Carnival Fun Pass.

Early Bird credit packages are now on sale until 5 April 2023 – EARLY BIRD PRICING NOW ENDED.

• 130 credits $120 (save $36.00)

Show Time Period – On Sale 6 April – 17 April

Carnival Fun Pass Packages are:

• Single credit $1.20 
• 30 credits $35 (save $1.00)
• 60 credits $65 (save $7.00)
• 90 credits $90 (save $13.50)

All carnival rides require 4 or more credits.  You can check how many credits you’ll need for each ride by visiting the Carnival section on the website.

Each ride contains information about height restriction and number of tickets required. This helps you calculate how many overall credits you’ll need. The cheapest ride is Super Slide at 4 tickets and the most expensive is No Limit requiring 16 credits.

If you didn’t pre-order a Carnival Fun Pass don’t worry, you can attend a Carnival Fun Pass booth or kiosk across any carnival precinct and purchase a package. You can also download and purchase in advance via the Carnival Fun Pass app. It’s available on Google Play and App Store.

Carnival Fun Pass Refunds 

If you don’t use all your credits, get a refund. You can load credits with confidence knowing you can refund the value of unused credits after the Show, strictly for a limited time. To withdraw, simply jump into the Easter Show Fun Pass app and use the ‘refund button’ to make an application within 14 days of the Show finishing.

Refunds commence on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, and conclude Monday, 1 May 2023. The value of unused credits will be returned within 10 business days of your application, please note that the refund application attracts a $2.50 processing fee.

What are the best family exhibits and shows at the Royal Sydney Easter Show?

There are so many to choose from but here are some of our favourites:

Farmyard Nursery – A popular attraction with families, the  Farmyard Nursery is an open-plan indoor paddock with over 500 free-range animals you can pat. It includes ducklings, piglets, chickens, geese, sheep, goats and donkeys.

Animal Walk – Follow the footprints and stroll along the Animal Walk, and in and out of pavilions, to see all the Sydney Royal award-winning animals and farmyard friends. From pigs and sheep through to cows, alpacas and horses… with chooks and ducks and goats in between. 

Woolworths Ag Discovery – Full of hands-on activities, interactive displays and educational fun, the Woolworths Ag Discovery Pavillion teaches kids everything they need to know about food and fibre, paddock to plate and the importance of our farmers. 

Australian Wildlife – Meet the team from Australian Wildlife Displays and their menagerie of native animals for a unique hands-on experience. All the presenters are tertiary qualified and will keep you engaged with exciting facts and stories.

While the team promotes the importance of environmental conservation, they’re happy to teach you how to discourage sneaky snakes from your property as well as what to do if you encounter one in the wild.

Little Hands on the Land – After welcoming over 40,000 little farmers in 2022, once again the Paddock will be transformed into a kid-sized working farm aimed to teach 2 – 10-year-olds about agriculture from crop-to-shop.

Little Hands on the Land is a free activity that takes children on a journey through ten stations including a chook shed, fruit orchard, veggie patch, cow shed, pony barrel race and an outback tractor pull. Next stop, the farmers’ market where produce collected along the way is traded for farm dollars which can be spent at the final destination – the supermarket.

Kids’ Amusement Rides – There are no shortages of rides for kids from tots to teens to enjoy. They include family favourites like the Carousel, Tea Cups, Dodgem Cars and more. The Kids’ Carnival offers children and families a wonderful world of excitement, gasps and giggles.

Enjoy the gentle turn of the carousel or the fun of racing down the Rainbow Super Slide. Check out this ride list to find out all the rides that will be at the Royal Sydney Easter Show.

Vegetable Displays – Check out the creativity of the District Exhibits display. It’s a celebration of Australian agriculture, using produce to create exhibits telling the stories farmers want to share.

Innovative displays are created by four regions representing Southern, Northern, Western and Central NSW. The displays are made of fresh fruit, vegetables, pulses, wool, eggs, beeswax, wine, jams, grains and more. 

Woodchopping Show – A favourite at the Easter Show, it’s amazing to see these strong men and women take up the axe. Watch as they speedily cut through a log of wood with an axe. Woodchopping in Australia is a sport established following a bet in a pub in Tasmania in 1870.

Kids Entertainment – There are lots of entertainment options to keep kids happy at the show.

See Bluey and her little sister Bingo during their daily Live Interactive Experiences in the Little Big Top Amphitheatre. Catch this adorable duo and their friends on stage! Get ready to play Magic Asparagus, Magic Xylophone, Keepy Uppy and more with your favourite Heeler duo.

If your kid is a fan of the ABC hit series Kangaroo Beach, don’t miss the The Kangaroo Beach Live Interactive Experience. See Pounce and Neville from the ABC hit series Kangaroo Beach during their daily Live Interactive Experiences. Don’t miss two of your favourite junior cadets and their friends on stage.

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) – Firefighters will be at Olympic Park with a variety of displays and demonstrations. These include fire trucks, a kitchen fire simulation, kid’s activities, merchandise from The Museum of Fire and even a number of visits from the fire investigation dogs. Firefighters will also be on the ground providing vital home fire safety and prevention tips. Visit the FRNSW display, located in The Paddock near the Main Entry.

Will there be evening entertainment at the Royal Sydney Easter Show?

There is plenty to enjoy for the evening entertainment. When the sun begins to set, head over to the main arena for this year’s show-stopping evening entertainment The Thunder of a Thousand Hooves that will literally have a thousand hooves thundering through the arena! State-of-the-art tech brings the night to life.

There’s also the evening entertainment at 6pm with the Wrangler Federation Rodeo Challenge (6 to 11 April 2023), and the World Championship Campdraft (12 to 17 April 2023).

At 8:25pm, a Sydney Royal Easter Show crowd favourite, the Airtime Freestyle Motocross Team (previously ShowTime FMX Team) will be thrilling crowds on the Main Arena. Pushing the limits on what is possible, their action-packed show will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish!

Featuring death-defying stunts, and jaw dropping tricks such as the holy grab, whip, and backflip, this is an incredible family friendly show for all ages, and one not to be missed! Entertainment concludes with the fireworks finale.

Will there be fireworks at the Royal Sydney Easter Show?

Yes, the fireworks display will be part of the evening entertainment each night of the Show. The fireworks finale runs from 8:35pm – 8:45pm at Giants Stadium.

How to save money at Sydney Royal Easter Show

Let’s face it, it can be expensive going to the show by the time you add everything up. But here are are a few ways to save money at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It is possible to do the Sydney Royal Easter Show on a budget but you’ll need to plan ahead.

• Buy Earlybird tickets for admission and rides before midnight 5 April 2023. That will save you money immediately.
• If that’s not possible, choose a day to attend that is cheaper like Kids Day when kids get in for half-price. You can also buy the Earlybird Twilight tickets which get you cheaper entry after 4pm.
• Save on parking by leaving your car behind. The Sydney Royal Easter Show tickets include return travel on public transport between Thursday, 6 April and Monday, 17 April 2023 inclusive. Please do not tap your Opal Card or you will be charged as normal for the journal. Simply show your Sydney Royal Easter Show ticket or approved pass to the NSW Transport guard or equivalent and they will provide access to the transport service.
• Food is one of the reasons that families head to the Royal Easter Show. After all, it’s not the show if you don’t eat a chip on a stick, a CWA scone, toffee apple and fairy floss. However, it can get expensive. If you’re searching for a quick bite on a budget, head to the Big Bush BBQ, an old-fashioned sausage sizzle… and nothing makes the snag taste as good as knowing all funds raised are going straight back to a regional community.
• If you’re trying to keep costs down, you can also bring your own water, sandwiches and snacks. And eat a big meal before you get to the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• You can also save money at the show by seeing the free activities rather than heading to the rides. Spend time in the animal nursery, participating in Little Hands on the Land, watching woodchopping, kids performances, evening entertainment and fireworks.
• If you do want to go on rides, buy exactly the amount of credits that you need for the ride as you can buy them individually. If you do buy a pass, you can get a refund for the value of unused credits after the Show, strictly for a limited time subject to a $2.50 processing fee.
• Another way to save on rides is to attend the show on the last day of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, Monday 17 April 2023 with Kids’ Day 2 for 1 Carnival. It features 2 riders for the price of one for carnival rides in the major Carnival precincts of Australia Avenue and Olympic Boulevard until 5pm. Just get on the same ride, at the same time, and only one of you needs carnival credits. Offer excludes Kyle & Jackie O’s Haunted House.
• Showbags are another area where you can blow a lot of cash. Do your research before the show to see what showbags are available and stick to a strict budget. Showbags start at $3.

What showbags are available to purchase at the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show?

Can’t wait to see what showbags will be available? You can check them out ahead of time and even make a wishlist.

Visit the showbags section of the Royal Easter Show website. They usually range in price from $3 to $35. We’ve made a list of our favourite showbags.

There’s different categories of showbags including confectionery, toys & novelty and health, fashion and lifestyle. Some of the themed showbags include The Avengers, Barbie, Disney Princess, Harry Potter and Hello Kitty.

You can either purchase your showbags when you arrive at the show or at the end. Stash them in a locker so that you don’t have to walk around all day with them if you buy them early. Bookings available from the end of February 2023.

All-day locker hire is $12 for Regular 90L capacity or $20 for Jumbo 180L capacity. Or do, what some families do, and buy them as you leave the Easter Show. It’s a good way to get the kids to leave without a tantrum.

Is there an app for the Royal Sydney Easter Show?

Sign up for MyShow to navigate the 2023 Royal Sydney Easter Show. MyShow works on mobiles, tablets and computers and includes all the essential information to help you plan your day at the Show. You can explore all of the animals, entertainment, pavilions, carnival rides, food options and showbags.

With MyShow, you can access your itinerary anytime and anywhere. Whether you’re at home or on the go, you can easily add and check your planned activities, showbags list or food vendors.

How to keep kids safe at the Sydney Royal Easter Show?

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is a big place with huge crowds. Be sure to keep an eye on your children. It’s easy for kids to get distracted or disoriented and wander in a different direction from you.

Dress them in bright distinctive colours, so they are easy to spot in a crowd. Choose a meeting location in case you get separated.

Write your mobile number on your kids arm in permanent marker (you can easily remove the text with micellar water after the event).

For younger kids, use a backpack harness and give older kids a whistle that they can blow to attract your attention if they get lost. You can also attach an Apple Air Tag to their outfit so you can find them.

Take a photo of your kid in their outfit in case you do lose them and have to show a photo of what they look like.

How can I recharge my phone at Royal Sydney Easter Show?

There’s nothing worse than running out of battery on your phone. If you run out of power on your phone, for a small fee you can recharge at stations placed around the grounds. There are multiple ChargeSpot Mobile Phone Charging Stations onsite for the convenience of Showgoers.

Simply visit one of the Mobile Phone Charging Stations to charge your phone or rent a portable powerbank to charge your phone on the go as you continue to explore the show. Once your phone is charged, simply return the powerbank to any of the below locations.

All Mobile Phone Charging Stations will allow  users to rent a powerbank so they can charge their device and continue to use their phone around the show. You can then return the powerbank to any of the locations listed below. It costs $5 for 1 hour.

Is the Sydney Royal Easter Show COVIDSafe?

To keep the community safe while delivering the iconic Sydney Royal Easter Show, organisers are working closely with NSW Health to ensure the Show is compliant with all COVIDSafe requirements as directed by the NSW Government.

There will be capped numbers and online ticket sales only, physical distancing queuing system, hand sanitation stations and increased venue cleaning. For more information, see the COVIDSafe information on the website.

Think about hotel accommodation at Sydney Royal Easter Show

Thinking about staying in Sydney and going to the Royal Easter Show? A friend who attends the Royal Easter Show every year swears that it’s better to book a hotel in Olympic Park especially if you’re travelling from outside Sydney. Her family stays two nights at the hotel.

They get up early and head to the show when it first opens, being one of the first to be there. When the kids get tired or they’re loaded up with show bags, they head back to the room for a rest and then return later for all the evening festivities including fireworks.

Although you have to factor in the cost of accommodation, if you want to maximise your time at the Sydney Royal Easter show, this is something to think about. By order of most expensive to least expensive, they are the Pullman Sydney Olympic Park, Novotel Sydney Olympic Park and Ibis Sydney Olympic Park.

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More Easter Fun!

Want more information about Easter events in Sydney? Check out our Hop To It! The Best 2023 Easter Events in Sydney To Enjoy With Kids article.

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Plan ahead to May: Read our How to Have a Great Family Night Out at 2023 Vivid Sydney