10 Tips for Experiencing The Perth Royal Show on a Budget 2014

Our Favorite time of the year is nearly here!  The Perth Royal Show is happening Saturday 27 September through Saturday 4 October, and we are getting excited!  If you want to experience The Perth Royal Show on a budget, here's 10 Tips to help you out:

10 Tips to Experiencing The Perth Royal Show on a Budget

1.  Purchase Discount Tickets before the show- 

The good news is Kids 12 and Under Go FREE when accompanied by an adult (thanks to the State Government of Western Australia)!  To save on tickets for those over 12, be sure to buy your discount tickets ahead of time either on the Perth Royal Show website, or from your local IGA supermarket (while supplies last).

2.  Catch the Train-

Save on fuel and parking costs by taking the train to Claremont Showgrounds.  It's hastle free and the kids love it!  A family rider pass is $12.10 and lasts all day.  Visit the Transperth website to plan your journey.

3.  Take Advantage of Food & Drink Samples/Specials and BYO Picnic-
We tend to pack our own food to The Perth Royal Show, and enjoy setting up a spot on the grass near the Main Arena to watch the goings on there while we eat.  This year, you can take advantage of some Food & Drink Samples at the Brownes Dairy Pavillion and the IGA Fresh from WA Pavillion. There's always something on for Food Lovers at the Royal Show!  Check out the Food Lovers schedule here.

 

4.  Follow the Yellow Brick Road-
Every year, we buy the Yellow Brick Road Showbag that leads us around to all sorts of Free Activities and discounts at The Perth Royal Show.  This year the Yellow Brick Road Showbag includes free activities, competitions, and 2 for 1 offers and discounts including an offer for banana smoothies and cheese toasties!  The Yellow Brick Road route runs daily from 9am - 5pm and should take about 2 hours to complete.  Buy more than one, and save!

• 1 bag for $10
• 2 bags for $18
• 3 bags for $25
• 4 bags for $30

5.  Titan the Robot-

Like Rocketman last year, Titan the Robot is the thing we are most excited to see at The Perth Royal Show besides the animals.  Titan is an enormous 2.4 meter tall robot weighing about 350 kg with a sense of humor.  He appears to appeal to all audiences, and has been around the world making people laugh and wonder... and now it's our turn to see him right here in Perth!  

You can see Titan the Robot Daily 12.45pm, 2.45pm, 4.45pm (F2 on the Map)

6.  Catch a Free Show-

Anywhere you see this symbol on your Perth Royal Show Map, you will find Free Entertainment! Our favourite picks for the kids this year are:

Bananas in Pyjamas- Daily 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm (J2 on Map)
See what Australia's favourite Banana Twins, B1 & B2, are up to in this live show featuring some of their famous songs and dances!

 

Miss Pink- Daily 12.00pm, 2.00pm, 4.00pm (F2 on Map)

A blast from the past 1960s retro pantomime performer, all decked out in Pink!

Mr. Bubble Man- Daily 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm (F2 on Map)
Everyone loves Bubbles!  Especially this mischievous Bubble Man who creates bubbles and belly laughs using his mini Bubble Factory on Wheels!

But there are loads more FREE ENTERTAINMENT to choose from including various musical performances.  Click here to see the complete list of Entertainment at The Perth Royal Show.

7.  Build Lego at the Lego Brick Zone - Daily 10 am - 6pm (H2 on Map)

Get creative in the hands-on Lego Zone! Plan, create, and build at the custom made LEGO play tables.  I can imagine we will be spending some time in this area as we all LOVE LEGO!

8.  View the 10,000 Animals on Display-  

We love viewing, patting, and interacting with the animals at The Perth Royal Show.  Here's two Animal Shows on the top of our list this year:

Racing & Diving Pigs- Daily 11.00am, 12.30pm, 2.00pm, 3.30pm, 5.00pm
Take a pick at which color coat is going to win, then watch the piggies race around the track!
Also, watch as the little piggies dive off a diving board into a tank of water.  I cannot wait for this one!

 

The Snakes Alive Demonstration- Daily 10am - 3pm.
Get up close and personal with the native snakes of Australia, including the rarest in our country!




Click here for more things for Animal Lovers at The Perth Royal Show.

9.  Buy a Budget Showbag-

The Blinky Bill Showbag is back again this year, and will only put you out $1!  Here are the 12 least expensive Showbags ranging from $1 to $4.  Hopefully at these prices, everyone will go home with at least one! 

Check out all the 2014 Showbags here.

10.  Free Nighttime Entertainment after dark-

The Horsepower Show looks like it will be fantastic!  Nightly at 7:30 pm in the Main Arena, watch as the stockmen herd running cattle with fireworks attached to their horses in a burst of blazing technicolour!

The Fireworks Spectacular is a must see!  Watch as the Fireworks light up the sky nightly at 8pm. Our family finds this the perfect finale for our time at The Perth Royal Show!

Variety Place on Saw Avenue, King's Park is Now Open! Newly Renovated!

The long awaited park renovation is complete at King's Park on Saw Avenue.  The new park is named "Variety Place" and it is gorgeous!



 The natural design beautifully incorporates the bush, wood, rock and other pieces of nature.  The previous park at Saw Avenue also used natural materials, and was enjoyed by Perth patrons for three generations!

I love educating myself and the kids while we play!  Signs like these are scattered around the park.

Hagen happily balanced across a jarrah log.

The famous swing has had an upgrade, and it's a blast!

Climbing nets will keep kids busy and active!

The park has many opportunities for climbing, including several stairways cut from timber logs.

Lots of tunnels!

 Kids love tunnels!  And this play park is full of them!  They are cut right into the rocks... you can run over, under, and through them!

 Hagen loved running through this metal textile maze!  

 And then there was this cage... Oh, the endless opportunities this cage will inspire for imaginative play!

Hagen spent his time crossing, climbing, balancing, and running through tunnels!

I was impressed with the wood carvings and the unique picnic tables.

Drinking fountains available at the park.

BBQs available.

Several picnic tables and shade trees for family gatherings.

Toilets available on site.

A beautiful Perth afternoon at King's Park




.

Visiting Kinderdental: A Paediatric Dental Specialist in Perth

Today Hagen had an appointment at the newly opened Paediatric Dental practice, Kinderdental, located in Claremont.  Dr. Justin Wong specialises in Paediatric Dentistry, which means he is like a paediatrician for kid's teeth.  In addition to his 5 year general dental degree, Dr. Justin has completed 3 years of post-graduate specialist training focused solely on the treatment of children.

Kinderdental specializes in paediatric patients from 0-18, as well as special needs children and adults, and no referral is necessary.

Hagen had been to the dentist once before about a year ago, and let's just say it didn't go too well.  He was resistant, and would not open his mouth.  The dentist was kind enough, but I quickly realized that working with children was not her specialty.  Hagen requires coaxing for anything new.  Getting a haircut puts him over the edge... and for whatever reason, so does going to the dentist.

The days leading up to the appointment at Kinderdental, I didn't mention the word "dentist" or "teeth" or anything of the sort. I simply told him we were going to Kinderdental to see Dr. Justin's fish tank.  I think it really helped to focus on something fun and interesting, and it took the anxiety out of the situation for Hagen.

A day before the appointment, the Kinderdental office called to remind us of our appointment time, which is always a good thing when you have three kid's busy schedules to keep track of.

The office was easy to find, and there was ample parking in the front and the rear of the building, where you will find the entrance. 

  

When we arrived at the office, Hagen walked happily through the automatic glass sliding doors.  The reception area was inviting, and Hagen was instantly drawn to the fish tank.



I filled out the patient information sheet while Hagen comfortably played with the toys and watched a show on the large flat screen television.  I was so relieved that he didn't seem anxious, and he was actually excited to see what was going to happen next.

Dr. Justin Wong greeted us, and we walked through another sliding glass door to the examination rooms. Hagen warmed up to the dental nurse, Chloe, right away when she handed him a dental mirror all of his own. The dentist asked Hagen to count his own teeth with the mirror while he asked me some basic questions.

Hagen was quite reluctant at first, but it didn't take too much coaxing to get him into the dental chair once he saw the television screen up on the ceiling.

Dr. Justin was extremely flexible, and never forced Hagen to do anything.  It was very clear to me that he wanted this to be a positive experience.  

Hagen was most comfortable lying on my lap in the chair, so that's what we did. Dr. Justin asked Hagen to open wide like a crocodile and he used "sunshine" to look into Hagen's mouth.  The dentist and nurse really worked as a team to make Hagen feel comfortable, and to make the examination not only possible, but pleasant as well.


Hagen was the commander of the dental chair and got to move it up and down by pressing the buttons. He was most amused!  He was also thrilled with the toy skateboard he was awarded for allowing the dentist to count his teeth and take a look in his mouth.

It is apparent that quality of care is very important at Kinderdental,  After Hagen's examination, Dr. Justin showed me around his office.  It was not only aesthetically appealing, but it was state of the art as far as technology and design.  I was especially impressed by the processes used to ensure clean instruments, proper air flow, and filtered water.  Not something I thought a lot about before, but so very important in a dental office.


Upon leaving the appointment, I asked Hagen if he'd like to visit Kinderdental again sometime so we could get some pictures of his teeth.  "Yes please!" was his answer.  I'd say we hit the jackpot, and the dentist visit was a huge success.  I highly recommend Dr. Justin Wong and his staff.  I'll be making appointments for my other two children in the very near future!

Kinderdental is located at 263 Stirling Hwy,
Claremont, WA  6010

Call to book an appointment: 08 9384 8800