It is Ekka time and if you want an inside scoop on how to make the most of your time with Ekka we’re here to give you a few tips. Ekka, officially known as the Royal Queensland Show, is going to be bigger and better than the last. It’s a whole lot of family fun with rides and attractions all around and a great event to hang out with your friends for entertainment, food, drink, and merriment!
Worried that it’s going to be too crowded or too pricey to go to Ekka? If you want to avoid the bigger crowds and get the most bang for your buck, here are a few tips you ought to know:
Buy Tickets In Advance
Early bird specials are common, unfortunately since Ekka’s started by this time, you might not be able to get the $26 (adult 15 years and over) and $17 (child 14 years and over) admission. That doesn’t mean that you can’t still save up. If you check the Ekka official tickets page, you’ll find all sorts of discounts for students, children, seniors, and specific days.
Don’t Go on A Weekend
If you’ve ever been to Ekka on a weekend or ekka holiday, then you know that the crowds are ridiculous. If you can, go on a weekday that’s not an Ekka holiday (August 10th for Brisbane). Especially when you have young children with you, taking them to an event with throngs of people may be a bit too much to handle. Even you want even less people, go during the morning. There’ll still be loads of kids activities and entertainment and you can go home by the time too many people turn up.
Stick to A Budget
When all of the scents, sounds, and fun start to overwhelm your senses, controlling your spending gets a little tricky. If you can (and if you dare), bring only the amount that you can spend. Just make sure you have a full tank of gas so you can go home. This way, when your money runs out, your only choices would be either staying and enjoying the show without spending or just heading home.
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun. Check out the What’s On guide to look for free entertainment and Super Days deals. You get all sorts of crazy deals like $1 to $5 OFF, 20% to 50% OFF, to Buy 2, Get 1 Free, to even absolutely FREE. Just be sure to read the Terms and Conditions so you know which days and for which events you can get the (downloadable) coupons.
On Food:
If you’re on a diet, or you want your kids to not eat junk the whole day, or you just want to save a few more dollars for the fun stuff (like shopping), then you should definitely bring your own snacks and water. Especially the water. You’d be surprised at just how expensive water can be and how much you’re going to need it while weeding through the crowds. Splurge a little on meals and maybe a few sweet treats for yourself and the kids. But if you’re not mindful of how many quick bites you’re actually getting from the stalls around, you can lose dollar after dollar without realising it. Not to mention how terrible you’d feel the next day after eating too much rich, sugary, oily, show food.
On Showbags
What kid (or kid at heart) doesn’t love showbags? These amazing themed bags of commercial merchandises are enough to get a child excited for surprises hidden inside. You have over 300 to choose from, and they’re filled with all sorts of knick knacks that you might not ever buy but are fun just the same. There’s usually around $20 per bag and you kids will probably beg you for at least one. Don’t let those puppy dog eyes convince you to buy more than you can afford or carry.
Remember that some of these bags will have ride vouchers that can help you save money on rides. If you haven’t purchased any, you might want to grab the showbags as soon as you get to the show just in case.
On Parking
If you know you’ll be shopping a lot or if you’re bringing kids with you, then you should definitely bring a car. If you’re flying to Brisbane, you can just ask your Brisbane car rental provider to pick you up from the airport so you can drive from there to your hotel or straight to Ekka. If you’re going early on a weekday, you shouldn’t have too much of a problem looking for parking around the area. Check out SecureParking for the nearest car parks and prices.
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