2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival packages

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is the ultimate four day celebration of racing, style, fashion and glamour. For one week in spring, fabulous Flemington becomes the focus of the nations corporate, social and equine activity.


Experience the 2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival, highlighted by the running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup with premium two night accommodation packages at your choice of a great range of hotels and Carnival venues.

Melbourne Cup - Spring Racing Carnival

All of the below packages include 2 nights accommodation, return coach transfers from Melbourne Airport to hotel, return train/tram tickets to Flemington Racecourse on 1 November & admission to selected race day venue. All you need to do is select your chosen hotel and race day enclosure!

AAMI Victoria Derby Day is considered by most racing purists to be the best single day of thoroughbred racing in Australia, if not the world. The day provides a sizzling start to the racing week. Be sure to wear the traditional black and white outfit!

Package includes:

• 2 nights accommodation
• Admission to Flemington Racecourse
• Access certain food outlets and betting facilities within the grandstand
• Return coach transfers from Melbourne Airport to hotel
• Return train/tram tickets to Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne Cup - Spring Racing Carnival

The Emirates Melbourne Cup is the greatest day on the sporting and social calendar - the one day when everyone, young and old, stops to partake in this unique cultural tradition. At 3pm on the first Tuesday in November, the nation comes to a standstill for 200 heart-pounding seconds to watch the running of this great race.

Package includes:

• 2 nights accommodation
• Admission to Flemington Racecourse
• Access certain food outlets and betting facilities within the grandstand
• Return coach transfers from Melbourne Airport to hotel
• Return train/tram tickets to Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne Cup - Spring Racing Carnival

Crown Oaks Day The Ultimate Style Day is the traditional ladies day, where women celebrate feminine elegance and the heritage of Ladies Day at Flemington. This day is also the final of the Myer Fashions on the Field.

Package includes:

• 2 nights accommodation
• Admission to Flemington Racecourse
• Access certain food outlets and betting facilities within the grandstand
• Return coach transfers from Melbourne Airport to hotel
• Return train/tram tickets to Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne Cup - Spring Racing Carnival

Emirates Stakes Day The Melbourne Cup Carnival concludes with Emirates Stakes Day, featuring Victoria's premier 1600m event, the Group 1 Emirates Stakes. Recognised as the Carnival’s family day, the focus is on family fun with an abundance of activities arranged for children.

Package includes:

• 2 nights accommodation
• Admission to Flemington Racecourse
• Admission to the Home Straight enclosure
• Reserved seat at a table for the day inside the marquee
• Access to garden area with live band on stage
• Buffet lunch
• Afternoon tea
• All Day Beverage Package including beer, wine, sparkling wine and soft drinks
• Return coach transfers from Melbourne Airport to hotel

Melbourne Cup - Spring Racing Carnival

Conditions apply. Prices are per person twin share in Australian dollars, airfares not included.

Melbourne Fashion Festival

Melbourne Fashion Festival March 8 to 15. 2012.

By David Reyne

Melbourne is set to prove once again that it is the fashion capital of Australia. I realise such a statement is likely to put Sydney’s fashion followers noses’ out of joint but, get over it. Besides, they’ve got the world’s most beautiful harbour. And better weather… well, sometimes.

From the 8^th to the 15^th of March, the Melbourne Fashion Festival will transform the city’s infamous Docklands precinct into an utterly glamorous destination.  

The Fashion Festival itself never fails to jolt the nation’s grooviest into an excited frenzy. Whether it’s the sight of all those alluring catwalk angels strutting like newborn mules, the sizzling creations of the design elite, the often chaotic concoctions worn by the hysterical in attendance, or the cocktail fuelled, doof-doof powered after parties, the Melbourne Fashion Festival can always be relied upon to create an unforgettable spectacle.

And Melbourne, as always, rises to the occasion. Visitors might like to take advantage of the best coffee in the country, throw back a few silky lattes and stay awake for the duration of the festival. 

But, if coffee seems to pump too many amps to your already frazzled nerve ends, soothe them by turning left down any city lane where you’ll find impossibly hip bars hidden away in candle-lit bolt holes. 

As for Docklands, well, Melbournians remain undecided. Edgy, angular apartment buildings vie for space with the colour crazed facades of numerous corporate headquarters while, at their feet, row upon row of sleek yachts and polished cruisers are fringed by freeway ramps, container ship commotion and big city shadows. It’s well worth a ponderous look.

No-one should ever need an excuse to visit Melbourne but if your life requires an injection of style, stoke and stimulation, Melbourne Fashion Festival week could be the mainline hit you need.