Melbourne Showgrounds — Attraction in Melbourne

I’ve visited the Melbourne Showgrounds a few times over the years, mostly as a kid heading to the Royal Melbourne Show. So getting the chance to return in October 2025 as a volunteer felt really special. I spent two days helping out at the show and loved every minute of it. Getting there was super easy, with trains running every ten minutes from Flinders Street straight to the Showgrounds during show season. There’s also on site parking if you’re driving which is a little pricey, but worth it for families or big groups, and pick up zones near some gates for anyone using rideshares.

Volunteering was such a rewarding experience. Across my two shifts from 9am to 1:45pm, and again from 1:30pm to 6pm, I met some of the most wonderful volunteers, many who have been part of the show community for years. Their kindness and enthusiasm were infectious. I worked the gates for part of my time, helping families with wristbands and maps, then also got assigned to the animal farm area where I spent time surrounded by sheep, goats, and smiling kids. Everyone I met was generous, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. It was heartwarming to be part of that team energy, and I was so grateful for the extra perks too of free show tickets, and a few free gifts.

When I wasn’t volunteering, I took the chance to explore the show myself. Even on a busy Sunday, the final day of the event, the chaos was part of the charm. There were pavilions full of animals, competitions, and community showcases, all celebrating the best of Melbourne’s creativity and agriculture. The Food Pavilion was especially fun with stalls packed with samples of cheese, nuts, meats, spreads, and all sorts of local treats. The Spotlight Pavilion was another highlight, displaying everything from baking and sewing to photography and art. Seeing the effort and talent behind all those entries was inspiring.

Of course, no Royal Melbourne Show is complete without a trip through the showbag pavilion, which was full of classics and some wild new bags. Prices were steep, but if you wait until the last day, there are great deals from vendors clearing stock. Food wise, most stalls were over $10 a meal, but I found a $3.50 cheese toastie that hit the spot so if you keep an eye out, there are definitely budget friendly options.

The rides and entertainment were brilliant. There’s something for everyone from family friendly games and pony rides to thrill seeker favourites. My friend and I braved the Breakdance ride for a proper adrenaline hit, then checked out a few novelty attractions like the haunted house and roller coaster. They were silly, spooky, and full of jump scares.

All up, my friend and I spent under $150 for the day, which felt reasonable considering how much we packed in. There are heaps of free activities too, like woodchopping, dog shows, horse riding events, and live performances, so it’s easy to have a full day without overspending.

Returning as an adult and seeing the Royal Melbourne Show from both sides as a volunteer and a visitor, really reminded me why this event is such a beloved part of Victoria’s culture. It’s community driven, full of history, and absolutely buzzing with life. Whether you go with family, friends, or as a volunteer, the Melbourne Showgrounds truly deliver one of the most joyful experiences you can have...

Went here for Supanova. Not a fan of the typical use for these grounds as I’m against animal racing and punting morally as it is most often abusive to the animals, I know this from firsthand experience as I’ve rescued horses that where meant to be put down due to not being able to race anymore and have seen the mental and physical pain these animals go through. Moving on to the accessibility of the location; It is on a bit of a hill and there are grates and dips everywhere for rain drainage but it made it difficult to navigate and gave my carer a workout pushing me. The maps on the app/website weren’t as accurate as I’d like them to be and they where separated by area, though it was easy for me to find a specific stall of a friend that was tabling using the guide. The entry to the first aid area was blocked by a huge sign, which could be an issue for someone unable to move past that that might need medical help. Stay clear of the photo-shooting if you are flash sensitive. The main disabled bathroom with hoist and adult change table was locked by an MLAK key, which not all disabled people have or can use due to disability and I wasn’t able to get a spare key from a worker. I went to the inner disabled bathroom which was plenty roomy but didn’t have the hoist, which is understandable as vandalism is a major problem. It also didn’t have a tactile lock, the lock having a price of label tape telling you which orientation is locked and which is unlocked, which isn’t accessible to the blind or people unable to read English. The parking is a fair bit away from the entrance, even the disability parking section. All of the food places closed quite early compared to the con and only the icecream truck stayed open until the end. There were dishes with nuts from the icecream van so I didn’t want to chance it but the gelato was gluten and dairy free. The chips also are typically an easy choice for me as someone allergic to soy and nuts, though I don’t know if they are gluten free. Unfortunately only a few were wearing masks which means you are risking Covid exposure to go, which is not something a lot of disabled people can afford. There was only one case of someone taking a photo in the artist alley with flash but I was far enough away that it didn’t cause me to have a seizure. There was also a few displays with minor flashing/flickering lights, which could be inaccessible to some. Please be mindful of others with flash sensitivity, flashing can be dangerous and/or fatal to a lot of people, so maybe find a place with less people if you want to take a picture with flash outside of the designated areas. The artist alley hall had decent space for people walking/wheeling past, so I had no issue navigating here. All of the stall holders were lovely and accommodating to me being not verbally responsive and some would gesture or sign to me which I appreciated. It was great to be able to go to a convention again and see people like me having fun and being immersed in nerd-culture or dressed up in...

The Melbourne royal show is a all time favourite for Melburnians young, and old. The show features activities like, animal petting, motorcycle stunts, showbags, fireworks, and rides. As well as lots of food places to eat at. We arrived at the show by train because there was horse racing at flemington racecourse, and there was no parking because of the horsey people going to watch the horses race. Anyways, the first thing we did at the show, was visit the animals in the animal nursery. There were many goats and sheep, as well as a donkey, a pony, deers, chickens and baby chickens, rabbits, an alpaca, and a llama. The llama liked taking photos. You can also feed the animals by buying a food cup. And the animals go bonkers for it. As well as there many animals here, people also like to bring their dog(s) here. And show them off. As well as have them participate in obstacle courses called "superdogs." Which I guess would have been pretty cool to see. As well as the motorcycle stunt show. There is also many pavilions here, so many, that we couldn't visit them all unfortunately, but at least we managed to see the one with all the cakes in it. The cakes that they had on display were magnificent. I loved them all. The pavilion with all of the food samples was cool. Unfortunately, there was no time to go to the livestock pavilion, or the 9 news pavilion. We also didn't go on any rides as they're expensive, along with the food, and showbags. But hey, that's just part of the Melbourne royal show experience. Anyways I liked the show with the chickens riding quad bikes. It was funny. The laser show was cool as well. And the fireworks were spectacular. They absolutely lit up the night sky. And of course, we can't talk about the show without mentioning the best part, SHOWBAGS! there were many different showbags to choose from, most of them are great, but some of them.....not so much. But I think I made a good choice with the ones I bought. So, in conclusion, the royal Melbourne show may be an expensive experience, but it sure is worth it. Would definitely like to see again next year, and then the...