We booked tickets for the first day of the Sydney Royal Easter Show and we are happy to report access is better than in previous years. We are regulars at the Show so we can share a combination of general Easter Show tips, as well as accessibility information.
If you are planning a trip to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, read on so you are armed with information to make the most of your day.
Booking tickets to the show
Ticket bookings are recommended for each day of the show but particularly for the super popular Easter weekend. Bookings are made online with discounted tickets available for people with a disability and companion card tickets can be booked at the same time. For those willing to chance the availability of tickets at the gate, please note that payment is only available with a credit card. No cash payment option is offered.
If you are looking to drive to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, parking must be pre booked no later than the night before. Before the Show even started some of the dates over the long weekend were already fully booked.
Level 3 is the best parking level to park on but on our arrival at around 9am we were already being directed to level 6 for parking as the lower levels were full. The wait for the lifts is lengthy with prams, wheelchairs and the elderly all clamouring for space. Be prepared to wait quite a while.
Accessible drop off zone
If you are being dropped off at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year, the accessible drop-off and pick-up zone for people with a disability is located on Dawn Fraser Avenue between Edwin Flack Avenue and Olympic Boulevard.
If I was to take Braeden to the Easter Show again with the assistance of a support worker or another family member, I’d be inclined to drop them in the accessible drop-off zone and then park. That would mean I could avoid the wait for the car park lifts. I’d then be able to take the stairs and it may end up being quicker.
Best entry gate to the show
From the P1 car park we suggest veering to the left and entering through the carnival games entrance. Most people head towards the main entry but that also services people coming from the train station so it tends to be much busier.
There is an accessible line at both entry points but take whichever line is quicker as all the lines are accessible.
Hoisted bathroom with adult-size change bed
The biggest accessibility change at the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year is the addition of an accessible bathroom which offers a hoist, adult-size change table, toilet and privacy screen.
The bathroom can only be opened by using a MLAK key.
I did enquire if a key can be borrowed if you don’t have your own MLAK key but on the first day of the show staff seemed unsure if a key was available so if you have a MLAK, make sure you take it.
There is no paper roll to cover the change table so I suggest taking something to disinfect the change bed or something to put on it.
For those using the toilet, the paper is nearly impossible to reach from the seat. Perhaps take some tissues with you or get the toilet paper off the roll before transferring to the seat.
The hoisted bathroom is located on The Grand Parade near the $2 lockers and the Quiet Room. It is marked on the Sydney Royal Easter Show map but it isn’t sign posted on the signage around the show. If you are navigating around the show using the large sign posts, follow the direction of the Quiet Room.
Alternative accessible bathroom at Sydney Royal Easter Show 2025
If you don’t have a MLAK key and don’t need a hoist, there is a portable accessible bathroom with an adult-size change bed at the rear of the Engine Stadium (the major arena).
If you don’t require these facilities but do need an accessible bathroom, there are plenty located around the show and these are marked on the Show Map.
Quiet spaces
The Hidden Disability program is active at the Easter Show with free lanyards available to those with invisible disabilities.
The Quiet Room is located on The Grand Parade and offers a space with dim lighting, bean bags and various fidgets for a time out. In my opinion the room could be a little larger and offer tents or partitioned off areas but it’s good to see a dedicated space in a central location this year.
If you just need time out from the hustle and bustle to decompress but don’t need the actual quiet room, I recommend heading to the Heritage Pavilion.
The Heritage Pavilion offers seating, colouring in, puzzles and some cool air.
The outdoor seating area outside the Heritage Pavilion offers shaded seating and sometimes live music. It’s a good spot for lunch out of the sun.
We found that The Grand Parade was much quieter than Riverina Avenue for getting from point A to point B. If you have a choice, we suggest using The Grand Parade for getting around and cutting through the Arts & Crafts Pavilion to get between the two can be more wheelchair friendly. You don’t get caught up in the crowds.
Families with prams continue to utilise the wheelchair accessible seating areas. I suggest approaching RAS staff to ask them to move along if you can’t find appropriate seating available. Getting to the arena early for specific events, especially the midday events, is helpful.
If it’s a hot day and you are looking for some elusive shade for the stadium in the middle of the day and afternoon, head to the stadium entrance near the KISS Eye. The above photo shows you the best entry point to get shaded accessible seating.
Staff at the Farmyard Nursery are great at guiding people with a disability to a quicker access line to go inside which avoids the cattle grid style of queuing. Unfortunately, no solution has been found to assist those with a wheelchair or a walker to access the nursery area with sawdust covering the entire area.
This year the pram drop off area is inside so the farmyard nursery area felt a little smaller. I thought perhaps there would be easy viewing of the animals from this area but we couldn’t see much from here.
If, like Braeden, you are a fan of scones or you are just looking for indoor seating to enjoy lunch of a snack, I’m happy to report the Country Women’s Association has dedicated tables for easier access this year.
Even first thing in the morning there is a long queue to be served so don’t wait until your hunger pains are at their worst.
A cattle grid is in place at all times during the day for entry to the Showbag Pavilion. It seems particularly annoying to do the winding through it with a wheelchair when it isn’t busy and yet we do it every year. We get to the Showbag Pavilion before 10am to buy our showbags without the crowds. It’s easy to move around and there’s no waiting for service.
We then take our showbags to the $2 lockers on The Grand Parade and store them in a locker that won’t suffer from the westerly sun in the late afternoon. Be warned, there are lockers opposite the Showbag Pavilion, but they cost a lot more.
Free water is located around the Easter Show so make sure you take a refillable bottle to save on drinks throughout the day.
Gluten free at the Easter Show
If you are looking for gluten free treats at the Easter Show we’ve found a few this year.
The Piefather has a dedicated food truck filled with delicious gluten free hot treats including a variety of meat pies and spinach & feta rolls. The food truck isn’t easy to access due to the height of the counter but staff are really lovely and will most likely assist if needed.
Gluten free donuts are available in the Home & Lifestyle Pavilion at the end closest to the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome.
The Country Women’s Association offer a small selection of Gluten Free treats too.
My personal favourite Sydney Royal Easter Show treat is a Dole Whip, which according to the sign above, is almost a health food.
Budget tips for the Sydney Royal Easter Show
It’s boring and onerous task packing food to take to the show but it does save money.
Travel to the Easter Show using public transport as the cost is included in your ticket price.
If you don’t want to pack lunch, $3 cheese toasties are available in the Showbag Pavilion.
At the Big Bush BBQ for $5 you can get a sausage sizzle with onion, sauce and a bottle of water.
The Campdraft Pie Shop also had the cheapest hot food I saw around the show with a plain beef pie costing $7, sausage roll $5 and chips and gravy $9. The hot food in the main thoroughfares is much more expensive.
Take cash for showbag purchases as there is a surcharge for using credit cards (around 0.8% up to 1%).
There are plenty of free activities like the parade that occurs at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm looping around the streets of the Show. Let the kids grab an animal passport and have it stamped in each of the animal pavilions. The Farmyard Nursery, patting a pig or chick is also free. Watch the wood chopping, arena events and parade – all for without attracting a charge.
I know it’s not always possible to get to the Easter Show early, but if you can, you will benefit with greater ease moving around. If not, just pack your patience.
If you go to the show we hope you have a great time.
