Animals & Agriculture
NAB Animal Nursery Discovery Farm
Open 9.30am - 8.00 pm daily
No visit to the Royal Melbourne Show is complete without a visit to the popular NAB Animal Nursery Discovery Farm, which is the home to all that is cute and cuddly at the Show.
As well as enjoying the wonderful display of animals including puppies, rabbits, quail and emus you can get up close and personal with your favourite baby animals. Kids can also pick some fruit from the orchard and even learn about feeding cattle.
A favourite within the NAB Animal Nursery is the live birthing pen, where you can experience the amazing spectacle of a lamb being born.
* Pavilion closes at 6pm on Thursday 18 September.
NAB Animal Nursery Lawn
Open 9.30am - 5.30 pm daily
Adjacent to the NAB Animal Nursery Discovery Farm is the Animal Nursery lawn, which is home to a wide variety of demonstrations and activities running throughout every day of the Show. Animals such as goats, sheep, alpacas and ducks will be on display to give children a real insight into life on the farm.
A new highlight this year is the Horse Breeds Expo which will be held on the Animal Nursery Lawn. The Expo will feature horse demonstrations regularly throughout the day including breeds such as Friesians, Palominos and Miniatures. Plus catch entertaining demonstrations from the Animal Wranglers, Horse Farrier and working dogs.
Don't miss the new Pigs and People display where you can learn about sows and their piglets, pat a weaner pig or just watch them wallow in the mud.
The Animal Nursery lawn will also feature sustainability where children can engage in activities and learn about the environment.
Did you know that 2008 is the Year of the Potato? Join the celebrations for the humble potato by taking part in potato sack races located on the Animal Nursery lawn.
Also on the lawn will be the Victorian Association of Forest Industries Working with Wood activity, where children get the chance to make products from recycled wood materials. There is also the chance to learn about the sustainable balance between production and biodiversity.
The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion
Open 9.30am - 8.00 pm daily
The impressive Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion is the largest display building at the Melbourne Showgrounds measuring 10,000 square metres. That's one hectare! The Weekly Times Livestock Pavilion is home to over 2,000 animals during the 11 days of the Royal Melbourne Show, and you can come face to face with sheep, dairy and Boer goats, and depending on which day you visit, beef and dairy cattle can be seen as they are judged to find the best in Show.
Check out the handy Daily Planner to find out which day your favourite animals will be at the Show.
The Wonderful World of Pets Pavilion presented by Channel 7
Open 9.30am - 7.00 pm daily
Discover a huge variety of pets including ferrets, cats, mice, rabbits, pigeons, rats and more in the Wonderful World of Pets Pavilion. Plus enjoy a daily demonstrations program including detector dogs from the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service, responsible pet ownership, Wildlife Victoria and Victoria University.
Use the Daily Planner to find out what time each demonstration is on during the Show.
* Pavilion closes at 6pm on Thursday 18 September.
Horse Precinct
Open 9.30am - 8.30 pm daily
Horses are back for the 2008 Show, with horse competitions set to feature each day on the Coca-Cola Arena. All the competitors will be on show daily in the Horse Precinct so you can see just how much effort these fine creatures put into their appearance at the Show.
* Precinct closes at 6pm on Thursday 18 September.
Poultry Pavilion
Open Thursday 18 - Tuesday 23 September from 9.30am - 8.00pm daily*
Open Wednesday 24 September from 9.30am - 2.00pm
Head to the Poultry Pavilion to meet any array of feathered friends and even watch an entertaining chook washing demonstration or see a chicken hatch. You can learn about the feature breeds on display and how you could have your own backyard poultry.
* Pavilion closes at 6pm on Thursday 18 September.
Alpacas in the Poultry Pavilion
Open Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 September, from 9.30am - 8.00pm daily
Poultry makes way for Alpacas when approximately 200 Alpacas take over the Pavilion for the final four days of Show. Suri judging will take place on Thursday 25 September, with a general show case on Friday 26 September. Huacayas will be on display over the final weekend of the Show.
Dog Pavilions
Open 9.30am - 5.00 pm daily
The Royal Melbourne Championship Dog Show is the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Housed in Pavilions 18 & 19 at the western end of the Showgrounds, the Dog Pavilions are home to over 190 different breeds of dogs. You can watch the dogs being taken through their paces on the adjacent outdoor judging rings including the Old English Sheepdog, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Border Collies, Pugs and many more.
* Pavilion closes at 6pm on Thursday 18 September.