12 Days of Fun at the Sydney Royal Easter Show

A universal travel truism is that you can learn a lot about a place by what it chooses to celebrate. The Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia's biggest ticketed event, with more than 828,000 show-goers making their way through the front gates each year. Part county fair, part food festival, all-round slice of Aussie life, it’s been enthralling punters and awarding prizes for top-tier produce and livestock since the 19th century.

Over time it evolved into a huge carnival of entertainment that draws in folks from all corners of the world, but showcasing Australian agriculture remains the soul of the operation. Over the show’s 12 days more than 15,000 trophies are awarded for everything from scones to puppies.

The Royal Easter Show serves as an important opportunity for urban kids to learn about where food comes from, with a working dairy on site and hundreds of agriculture demonstrations each day. Arguably the most important part of the show, it’s also one of the only places in Australia where you can still get a Bertie Beetle showbag. If you know you know, if you don’t then you’ll just have to go to the show.

For 2025, the Sydney Royal Easter Show is scheduled to run from 11 April to 22 April. The entire shebang is housed at Sydney Showground in Olympic Park. You can jump on a train from Central Station to Lidcombe Station and on Olympic Park Station, arriving in under half an hour.

During show dates, extra services run for trains and buses, to keep the public transport madness to a minimum. If you’re driving, there’s parking on site, though it can fill up quickly, and you might be stuck weaving through a lot of enthusiastic families who’d rather be on the bumper cars.

When it comes to tickets, prices vary depending on how early you buy and whether you snag a family bundle or a single entry. In 2025, adult tickets typically hover around $45 to $50 AUD if purchased at the gate, but you’ll usually find better deals online if you buy in advance. Children’s tickets are cheaper, and kids under three years have free entry (check the official website for the latest info and any special promotions). Gates open at 9am and close late, so you’ve got plenty of time to gaze, graze, and be amazed.

The show’s glorious, no-nonsense display of Australian rural life really is something to see. Step into the woodchopping arena, and you’ll see why it’s been a Royal Easter Show mainstay for more than a century. It’s a brute-force sport that reminds you a little of axe-wielding Vikings at battle when the lumberjack athletes hack through massive logs in seconds. After a single round of top-class timbersports, you’ll be hooked.

Wander to the shearing shed to watch a skilled shearer remove an entire fleece from a baaing sheep in less time than it takes you to tie your shoelaces. Across the fairgrounds, the farmyard nursery is a must for kiddos - or anyone with an eye for the adorable. Moon-eyed calves, ducklings, lambs, and all sorts of ridiculous creatures are there for a cuddle or a well-placed handful of feed. Another highlight this year is the expanded Little Hands on the Land, a kid-friendly, interactive farm trail with enough miniature tractors and veggie plots to make any pint-sized city-slicker feel like a real farmer.

The District Exhibits are genuinely stunning displays arranged by different regions of New South Wales using fresh produce, grains, and other agricultural products to create giant, colourful mosaics or sculptures. From painstaking reproductions of famous Australian landmarks to whimsical seasonal scenes, all crafted entirely out of fruit, vegetables, and seeds.

At the daily working dog demonstrations you get to see why Australia’s working dogs have become legends in their own right. Border collies and kelpies, with their boundless energy and laser focus, work together with their humans to herd sheep in what looks like a perfectly choreographed dance. It’s a sight that never fails to impress, watching these canines respond to whistles and commands with uncanny precision, skill and devotion.

If you’ve got a taste for adrenaline, beyond all those chainsaws and axes, head straight for the carnival rides. A neon-lit playground that will jostle the senses, there’s the gravity-defying slingshot that catapults daredevils skyward, the towering Ferris wheel with a view of the entire spectacle, and other spinning contraptions guaranteed to test the resilience of your stomach. For families with younger children, there are gentler rides and plenty of sideshow games where you can attempt to win that large Minion toy you’ll be hauling around for the rest of the day.

Next on the list is the Sydney Royal Rodeo, a buckin’ bronco extravaganza that sees fiercely determined jack-and-jill-aroos trying to stay glued to wild horses and bulls. You don’t have to be a rodeo expert to appreciate the adrenaline rush. Meander over to the Street Circus performances to watch acrobats twist themselves into pretzel-like shapes while juggling flaming torches, and top it all off with the nightly fireworks extravaganza.

You also can’t talk about the Sydney Royal Easter Show without paying homage to the Country Women’s Association (CWA) tea room. It's a highly civilised haven of old-world charm in the middle of the carnival chaos, with lines of people waiting to buy scones as big as cane toads. Slathered in jam and a generous dollop of cream, these treats have a fan following that rivals any top-tier artisanal bakery. A little taste of tradition, courtesy of the women who have been perfecting these recipes for generations.

Beyond morning tea, the Gourmet Food Market pavilion offers up a safari of other culinary delights, from steak sandwiches off the grill to deep-fried Frankenfoods (Tim Tam fries, anyone?), native bush tucker to whatever deep-fried dish has taken Instagram by storm this year.

If you want to soak up every last minute of the show or visit over multiple days, booking a hotel in the precinct is a no-brainer. A stone’s throw from the Showground, Novotel Sydney Olympic Park has lovely big (and more importantly, quiet) rooms and excellent views over the near-by stadiums.

Pullman at Sydney Olympic Park is home to on-site restaurant, Bacar, well known for an exceptional, locally sourced menu and impressive wine list. For families, ibis Sydney Olympic Park is a comfy and economical option, with big screen sport and live music at the brewery bar and kitchen.

So if you find yourself in Sydney around Easter 2025, grab a ticket, slip on some comfortable shoes, and head to Sydney Olympic Park to get lost in the spectacle of it all.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show showcases the very best of Australia's agricultural heritage, as well as offering carnival rides, unique food, and top family entertainment.

In 2025, it runs from 11 April to 22 April at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park.

Tickets are available from February 2025. You can purchase online through the official Royal Easter Show website or at select retail outlets. The official online 2025 prices are:

• Family (2 Adults + 2 Children): $118.00

• Adult: $45.00

• Child: $27.00 (or $17.00 on Kids' Day, which is 22 April)

• Child under 3 years: Free

• Concession: $33.50

• Senior Card Holders $33.50: (or $25.00 on Seniors' Day, which is 14 April, 2025)

Sydney Showground is located within Sydney Olympic Park, about a 30-minute train ride west of Central Station with one train change at Lidcombe station. You can also reach it by bus or car. During the Show, extra public transport services usually run, ensuring you won’t have to elbow your way onto a jam-packed train every time. Check Transport for NSW for the latest schedules and route information.

Yes. There is on-site parking at Sydney Olympic Park, though it tends to fill up quickly on peak days (especially weekends and public holidays). If you’re set on driving, aim to arrive early or consider pre-booking a parking spot where possible.

The gates typically open around 9am, with most attractions running until late evening. Specific event times like woodchopping finals, dog shows, or fireworks are listed on the official timetable, so plan ahead to catch your favourites.

Absolutely. The Show has a farmyard nursery, gentle carnival rides, live animal displays, and the ever-popular Showbags. Kid’s Day (when child tickets drop to $17) is usually scheduled mid-week. Check the official website for exact dates and special family-friendly deals.

Head to the official Royal Easter Show website for full event schedules, performer announcements, and any last-minute updates. It’s the best source for showbags, ride passes, and highlights.