Perth Royal Show

Since landing in WA Nakita has begged every year to go to the Perth Royal Show. This is very similar to the Bath and West show but on a smaller scale and happens every year for a week at the end of September / beginning of October. We wish we'd agreed the first year when we had the money but ever since have said "not this year, we'll go next " So we finally caved in.

We had been warned that 1) the crowds are really bad and 2) it's as expensive as a holiday overseas !

Crowds - yes, true but similar to the Bath and West and ok by English standards, the Ozzies just aren't used to seeing so many people in one place. Getting there and back though was a doddle. We got the train up, changed at Perth to a train that stopped at the showgrounds, unfortunately it was packed when we got on and it did stop at every station between Perth and the showground for more pople (and buggys !!) to try and squeeze on. By the time we arrived we did look like a tin of sardines ! At the show it was easy to get in, we had prepurchased a ticket with a $6 saving but it looked like everyone else did too as this queue was the longest so we went into a queue to buy tickets for all of, ooh, 30 seconds and went straight through.Going home was even easier, the station is right outside the door and trains were leaving every 5 minutes or so. Easy peasy and all for $8.40 for two adults and 3 children !

Expensive - $54 for a prepurchased family ticket. I didn't think that was too bad but, when we got in, I did start to wonder exactly why we had to pay to get in as everything cost once you got in. Food was expensive, luckily we took our own food and drinks. There were rides there which are one of the highlights with each ride costing between $5 and $10 and a lot saying children had to be accompanied by an adult so the average ride for both children was $27 !! This would add up quickly and considerably. Then there's the showbags, the excitement and demand for showbags is incredible - I liken it to the Next sale ! Showbags are like goodie bags with lots of different things in them. For example a Cadbury show bag may have $20 of chocolate in for $10 and there may be another one with chocolate and a shoulder bag worth $40 in total for $20. The weekend before the show the national newspaper puts out a leaflet listing the hundreds of showbags available so you can choose before you go - nice of them. There were people laden down with showbags of all kinds, it has to be seen to be believed !

After having done lots of research before going we gave the girls a $50 budget - they could go on rides or buy showbags or food or whatever they wanted but had to stick to that budget. It worked really well as they all made the call that the rides weren't worth the money and instead ended up with loads of showbags ! Not one cent was spent over $50. I am glad we went, it really was an experience, but not one I would do in a hurry again. Could definitely put that money to use elsewhere.

Now I just need to find another excuse as to why we can't go to Adventure World again this year !

02:58 - Mon 29 September 2008