Watch me whip. Watch me neigh neigh.
Watch me whip. Watch me neigh neigh.
Looking for somewhere to celebrate this year’s Melbourne Cup? We field you!
Prepare to channel your inner clothes horse, frock up and sink a glass (or ten) of chardon-hay for the race that stops a nation.
Whether you’re after something opulent, glamorous, or more relaxed, here is a list of Gold Coast venues inviting you to stirrup some Cup fun this Tuesday 7th November 2023.
Giddy up Gold Coast!
JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa
Make a Cup date with the JW Grand Ballroom and indulge in a decadent 3-course luncheon, luxury beverage package, and a glass of sparkling vino on arrival.
Enjoy live entertainment by Magic Carpet Ride and fashions on the field by Liz Clift International designer labels, plus best dressed prizes sponsored by JW Marriott Gold Coast.
There will also be sweepstakes and raffles supporting the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation. 12pm – 3.30pm. Tickets are $199+BF per person or $1,990+BF for a table of ten.
Where: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Gold Coast
In the mood for an espe-shell-ally mouth-watering Melbourne Cup mingle this year? It’s your lucky day!
Take on the Sheraton’s show-stopping seafood buffet and 3 hour bev package, with a luxe luncheon in Terraces restaurant that will dish up absolutely everything you need for a ripper of a race day (short of actually picking the winner for you, that is).
Enjoy best-dressed prizes, live entertainment and fundraising raffle, with revellers also treated to an exclusive Oyster Experience with local oyster farmer, Jeff Green from Straddie Oysters.
Oh, and all that electric Cup day action live from Flemo, of course. 12pm – 3pm. Tickets from $199 per person.
Where: 71 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach
The Langham Gold Coast
Enjoy a fanciful affair with the return of the annual Melbourne Cup Garden Party at The Langham, this year in partnership with Veuve Clicquot for a rather splendid spring fling indeed.
Kicking off at 11:30am, delight in 4 fabulous hours of free-flowing premium alcoholic beverages and a lush 3-course lunch, The Langham style.
Soak up the chic surrounds of the decked out Diamond Ballroom with live entertainment, and your host for the afternoon, Triple M’s Dan Anstey bringing the bants.
Tickets to a very memorable race day at the GC’s newest address in luxury will set you back a tidy $350 pp, while groups of 10 receive a sneaky 10% discount.
So, consider this your sign to round up the fillies.
Where: 38 Old Burleigh Road, Surfers Paradise
The Star Gold Coast
As the GC’s trusty haven of recreation, this alone immediately qualifies The Star as Favourite for a Cup day of epic proportions.
Whether you fancy frocking up for a bit of fun and a cheeky flutter, or you want to go full-blown high roller this Melbourne Cup – The Star Gold Coast is always hot to trot. Um, hello, this is like their specialty!
These certified mane-iacs have whipped up no less than 8 race day options to sweep us off our feet, so consider this your sign to turf those plans to play it by ear and lock in a race day that slaps.
With everything from springcredible, sun-soaked garden-side soirées to lavish luncheons, it’s wayyy more action than we can pack in one paragraph – so ‘crack that whip’ and high tail it here for all the details. (And whip it, whip it good..)
Where: 1 Casino Drive, Broadbeach
Southport Sharks
As Southport’s hub of family friendly fun and frivolity, it will be no surprise there’s a (Fleming)tonne of festivities happening at Southport Sharks this Cup day, with many of our fave haunts warming up to welcome us for the big race.
Sharks Main Club
Frenzy’s is o-fish-ally set to dazzle for another Cup day with their delectable seafood buffet spread option always a sell out. Running from 11.30am – 3.00pm, adults tickets are $75+BF per person with kids and seniors tix also available, so don’t be shellfish – get the whole crew together to indulge in some delish race day fare and festivities for all. Rock out with your frock out with best dressed prizes, live entertainment, with big screens to catch all the track-side action and TAB facilities readily available for those who fancy a flutter.
Sharks Events Centre
For a swanky affair that’s a whole package, join the crew live and loud at the Events Centre luncheon. Feast on a tasty 3-course menu washed down with a 3.5-hour beverage package and, well, if you insist. There are best-dressed awards up for grabs, live betting facilities to up the thrill factor, live entertainment with Michael Hickey, and a photo booth to get snap happy in for a memento that’s much cuter than a sore head the next day. 11.30am – 3pm. Tickets are $129+BF per person, or $1,190+BF for a table of ten.
Cabana Bar
This just in: Sharks are certainly not horsing around this year, with the addition of an extra contender, a cocktail-style Tropicale Melbourne Cup soirée at Cabana Bar. Treat yourself to a welcome drink on arrival, feast on Mexican canapés, get your groove on with a live DJ and a 360 Photo Booth for the best kind #fitcheck to commemorate all those fabulous frocks. At only $39+BF, don’t be foal-ish and grab your tickets before they gallop out the door.
Aviary Rooftop Bar
Another hotly tipped front runner for your consideration absolutely neigh-ds to be Aviary Bar’s Rooftop Races event, gearing up to return in very fine form for another year with that knockout GC skyline view as backdrop. Find all the juicy deets for this glorious rooftop rendezvous here – and spoiler alert, we do mean juicy thanks to an all-inclusive VIP Garden Spritz package option.. #orangeyougladyoufoundthislist?!
Where: Corner Olsen and, Musgrave Ave, Southport
The Island
The array of activations on offer at the Island make it neigh on impossible to pick anything less than a winner of a time this Cup day (unlike that “sure thing” #hottip from your mate). Gala all out with a luxe luncheon in The Island Glasshouse, a 3.5hr food and bev package for the finery-donned foodies inc. 3 course luncheon, welcome canapés and free-flowing sips – and may lady luck be on your side attempting to reign it with cocktail carafes on the menu. 12.00pm – 3.30pm. Tickets are $209pp.
Or, take this little part-ay straight to the (roof)top and glam it up at the Penthouse Cocktail Soiree from 12.30pm – 3.30pm, with gourmet light bites and sun-soaked, free-flowing spring sips from $179pp.
While we’re talking nest level alfresco vibes, no doubt punters will also be flocking to the The Island Rooftop as it transforms into the G.H. Mumm Birdcage for the occasion, with 3 hours of premium bevs and bites – inc. piping hot wood fired pizzas on repeat. Tix from $109pp.
If you’re feeling a bit extra, gather your gaggle of 10+ for the boujee booth option – for $159pp, take your peck of all the birdcage perks on offer PLUS welcome Perrier Jouët Champagne and charcuterie straight to your table, and cocktail carafes for the duration.
Where: 3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
Currumbin RSL
For southern Gold Coasters, take your cup day celebrations creekside as the Currumbin RSL goes all out to celebrate spring racing szn, with a Cup-le of prime pozzy’s at which to perch up and catch all the race day action.
From $120pp, the Waterside Events Luncheon will be a sit-down affair hosted in the function room, which will be off and racing from 11.30am – so you’ll well and truly be in the swing of things by the time the barriers swing open for those 3 heart-stopping minutes.
Saddle up for the whole shebang, with a 3-course set menu to keep the sustenance up, live entertainment by Brooke Supple, fashions on the field, sweeps and lucky door prizes throughout the day.
Or hit the deck for a cracker of a time overlooking the creek at the Creekside Party from $85pp, with canapés and 2 hour beer and wine package, sweeps and live music by Alex Bowen.
There’s also live music from McKenzie Duo to follow ensuring the vibes remain high all arvo long – even if backing that tail-ender has you feeling a little roughie when all’s said and run.
Where: 165 Duringan Street, Currumbin
