WHETHER you’re a punter, a horse lover or fashionista, Victoria’s Melbourne Cup Carnival is the place to be in November.
Rail Holidays Australia has a five-day tour to Australia’s greatest horse racing event of the year. It departs Bathurst on November 3 on the NSW TrainLink Coach to Cootamundra, where passengers transfer to the XPT.
Saturday is Derby Day – the opening of the Spring Carnival. With several Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races on the card, this is thought by many to be the best day of racing at Flemington, with many of the country’s best horses on show.
Next day, the tour heads to the Dandenong Ranges. At Belgrave it’s all aboard the Puffing Billy steam train for a ride to Emerald and lunch at Cuckoo Restaurant in Olinda.
The next morning it’s on to Melbourne’s CBD for the Melbourne Cup street parade, with champion horses, jockeys, trainers and celebrity guests. In the evening, travellers will board the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.
On Melbourne Cup Day, it’s off to Flemington for a day of racing action before heading home the next day.
The tour can be joined at any XPT stop between Sydney and Melbourne. Price
per person is $2300 twin share for seniors ex-Bathurst or Sydney.
- (02) 6331-1128, www.railholidaysaustralia.com.au
