The Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup

- 13 nights Bed and Breakfast accommodation - Prudential Hotel (2 nights), Bayview On The Park (6 nights); Holiday Inn (5 nights) based on twin/double room occupancy
- Connecting flights from Manchester or Newcastle
- Return flights between London Heathrow and Australia
- Airport Passenger Duty and Taxes
- Return transfers between all Airports and the hotels Coach transfers and general admission to Flemington racecourse – 2 days
- Visit to an Australian stud farm
- Specialist racing tour guide throughout

Day 1 -
Connecting flights from selected regional airports to London Heathrow for an evening Qantas flight to Hong Kong

Day 2 -
Arrive in Hong Kong where you'll be met by our local Pumpkin Tours representative for the transfer into Hong Kong and the 4-star Prudential Hotel your base for the next two nights.

Day 3 -
Today is at leisure in explore Hong Kong or join our optional Hong Kong orientation tour, starting with a ride up Victoria Peak for panoramic views of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the surrounding islands. You'll pass picturesque Repulse Bay on the way to your next destination, the famous fishing village of Aberdeen. Here you'll see Hong Kong's junk-dwelling community still very much a part of Hong Kong life. You'll have the opportunity to board a sampan, for a close-up view of waterborne life (extra cost). Next you'll visit the famous Stanley Market, where you can pick up bargains at just a fraction of the price in town. Your tour of Hong Kong Island concludes with a short visit to a prestigious jewellery factory, where craftsmen fashion meticulous works of art from gold and gems. There is also the optional possibility of enjoying some Racing at either Sha Tin or Happy Valley.

Day 4 -
Breakfast followed by the transfer to Hong Kong Airport for your morning flight to Melbourne, where on arrival you'll be met by our local Success Tours representative for the transfer into Melbourne and the Bayview On The Park , an award winning 4-star hotel situated on Queens Road opposite Albert Park Lake and golf course.

Day 5 -
The day is at leisure to explore Melbourne or why not join an optional city orientation tour during which you'll see all the major attractions and discover the wonderful blend of heritage buildings and modern skyscrapers, vibrant cafes and cosmopolitan restaurants. Highlights include; Bourke Street Mall and tree-lined Collins Street, Melbourne's major shopping strip and business center, St Paul's Cathedral, the Princess and Regent Theaters, Melbourne Town Hall, the Royal Exhibition Buildings, Federation Square and other fine examples of Melbourne's architectural splendour, A stroll around Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens, Optional visit to tiny Captain Cook's Cottage, Bustling Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne's world-renowned sporting arenas, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Rod Laver Arena (home of the Australian Tennis Open), A visit to the historic Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria's memorial to Australians who have served the country in armed conflicts, Southbank's waterfront shopping, dining and Crown Entertainment Complex (Casino), Southgate Arts and Leisure Precinct, Cross the West Gate Bridge for views of the city skyline and scenic bayside suburbs of St Kilda and Albert Park.

Day 6 -
It's Victoria Derby Day at Flemington racecourse. The Victoria Derby is one of the biggest races in the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. While the Melbourne Cup is considered the most prestigious race of the Carnival, the Victoria Derby is frequently the better attended. In 2006 a Victoria Derby crowd of over 130,000 broke the attendance record for Flemington racecourse. Being the first race of the Spring Racing Carnival, the Victoria Derby traditionally takes place on the Saturday prior to the Melbourne Cup. The race is run over a distance of 2,500 metres and is open to 3-year old thoroughbreds. The race offers a massive purse of AS$1,5 million. As the oldest Group One horse race run in Australia, the Victoria Derby was first held in 1855. The race was originally run over a distance of 1½ miles, with this distance adjusted to 2400 metres in 1973 in order to bring the race in line with the metric system. Today the Victoria Derby is also recognised as a significant men’s fashion event..

Day 7 -
The day is at leisure in Melbourne or join an optional Yarra Valley wine tour and visit three of the region's best known wineries: Yering Station, Rochford Winery and Domaine Chandon. Over lunch and a series of wine tastings, see why the Yarra Valley is one of Australia's most picturesque wine regions on your Yarra Valley wine tour, the perfect day trip from Melbourne. You'll stop for cellar door wine tastings at Yering Station and Rochford Winery on the Yarra Valley wine tour from Melbourne. Your helpful guide will share tips on how to taste and enjoy the wines you'll be sampling. Stay on at Rochford Winery for lunch and choose your accompanying glass of wine at the cellar door. Lunch is followed by wine tastings at the rustic Yering Farm cellar door. The afternoon highlight is a private tour of the award-winning Domaine Chandon winery, known for its fine sparkling wines and stunning scenery. You'll enjoy a glass of wine at Domaine Chandon with a light tasting nibbles.

Day 8: Monday 1st November:-
Another day at leisure in Melbourne or Take an optional 'Great Ocean Road' day trip and experience one of the world's great coastal drives. There'll be plenty of photo opportunities along the way on your full-day Great Ocean Road tour from Melbourne. You'll snap wild coastal scenery and pristine beaches bordering the winding Great Ocean Road, peaceful beach townships, majestic rainforest and the rugged Shipwreck Coast. Your Great Ocean Road tour begins with panoramic views as you leave Melbourne from the West Gate Bridge. You'll soon be on the coast, passing world-famous Bells Beach, host of the World Surfing Championships, and dropping into the seaside holiday resort of Lorne. Your tour of the Great Ocean Road passes under towering limestone cliffs and along sweeping beaches all the way to the Twelve Apostles rising abruptly from the sea. Here you'll have the option of taking a helicopter flight over the dramatic Shipwreck Coast. There are more photo opportunities here from the various coastal viewing platforms and your expert tour guide will share the tragic legends of the Shipwreck Coast.

Day 9 -
Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington racecourse. The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major annual Thoroughbred horse race, 'billed as The race that stops a nation, it is a race for three-year-olds and over, over a distance of 3,200 metres. It is the richest and most prestigious "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races in the world. Since the late Princess Diana attended the race in 1985, there has been a 'Fashion of the Field' event with prizes being awarded to the best-dressed racegoers. Elegant and beautiful hats, suits and dresses are the order of the day!

Day 10 -
Today we depart Melbourne and transfer to the Airport for an internal flight to Sydney where on arrival you'll be met by our local Success Tours representative for the transfer into Sydney and the Holiday Inn, Darling Harbour, ideally situated close to the vibrant Chinatown and Latin Quarter with the Sydney entertainment centre right across the road.

Day 11 -
The day is at leisure in Sydney and probably the best way to see the city and beyond is with a 'Smartvisit Card'. The Sydney sightseeing pass includes admission to all the city's top attractions and comes with an informative guidebook. Choose between a one, two, three or seven consecutive day pass or the five in one attraction pass which allows you to visit 5 attractions over a 3 month period and customize your own Sydney itinerary. The See Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit card offers exceptional value, with free entry to tours, walks, museums, cruises, wildlife attractions, entertainment and the Blue Mountains. You'll receive a free full-color See Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit guidebook with helpful information about every Sydney attraction, including how to get there, opening/closing times and insider tips. Attractions covered by the See Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit Card include; ANZ Stadium Tour, Art Galleries, Australian National Maritime Museum, Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, Blue Mountains Sightseeing (transfers to Jenolan Caves), Bygone Beautys Devonshire Tea, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Dendy Opera Quays, Elizabeth Bay House, Elizabeth Farm, Featherdale Wildlife Park, Gray Line 1/2 Day City Sights Tour, Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout, Hyde Park Barracks Museum, Jenolan Caves, Jet Cruiser, Justice & Police Museum, Koala Park, Listen Live Tour, Magistic Cruisesmart, Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Manly Bike Tours, Mount Tomah Botanic Garden, Museum of Sydney, Observation Centre at Homebush Bay, Ocean World Manly, Oz Jetboating, Parramatta Heritage & Visitor Information Centre, Powerhouse Museum, Queen Victoria Building Guided Tour, Scenic World with Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, Susannah Place, Sydney Aquarium, Sydney International Aquatic & Athletic Centre Tour, Sydney Observatory & 3D Space Theatre, Sydney Opera House Guided Tour, Sydney Sights Walking Tour , Sydney Skywalk, Sydney Tower & OzTrek, Sydney Wildlife World, Taronga Zoo, The Rocks Walking Tour and Vaucluse House

Day 12 -
Today you'll enjoy an excursion to one of Australia's leading stud farms - details to be confirmed

Day 13 -
The day is at leisure in Sydney or enjoy an optional days racing at Royal Randwick one of the two major racecourses in Sydney. (Provisional date at this stage). The Australian Jockey Club Limited conducts 60 race meetings at two racecourses, the historic and prestigious Royal Randwick and the country style atmosphere of Warwick Farm.

Day 14 -
Your final day in Sydney, which last year was voted one of the most ten liveable cities in the world.

Day 15 -
Morning at leisure followed by transfer to the Airport for your Qantas flight back to the UK

Day 16 -
Arrival in London followed by connecting flights back to selected Regional UK airports

Please Select Your Itinerary

The Melbourne Cup