The Gold Coast and nightlife go hand in hand, so it will come as no surprise to you that come Melbourne Cup Day, there is plenty of competition for patronage among venues. There are a plethora of places at which you can watch the Race That Stops a Nation live, and the below four are some of the best of them.
Burleigh Pavilion
For a quintessential Melbourne Cup Day on the Gold Coast experience, look no further than the Burleigh Pavilion. They offer up all that you need for a great day in their Cup Day package, which includes a delicious food and drinks menu, prizes for the best dressed patrons, and a DJ playing music all afternoon long, while the racing action from around the country will be broadcast on the big screen. To top it all off, the venue is supremely located at the south end of Burleigh Beach, so you’ll get to soak up all of the beauty of the Gold Coast while enjoying your Cup Day.
Gold Coast Turf Club
It might not quite be Flemington, but the Gold Coast Turf Club is the home of racing on the Gold Coast, so it’s no surprise that plenty of locals opt to head there to watch the biggest race in the country. The Turf Club puts on many different hats on the first Tuesday in November – you can enjoy anything from a picnic in the sun to a full-blown Melbourne Cup Day party, with the former ideal for those after a low-key afternoon and the latter perfect if you want to immerse yourself in the racing culture. Regardless of where you spend the day, however, all eyes will turn to the big race come 5pm.
The Island
The Island, located in Surfers’ Paradise, is one of the most popular rooftop venues on the Gold Coast, so it’s no surprise that it’s also a hugely popular place for locals on Melbourne Cup Day. The rooftop itself plays host to a fancy cocktail party which offers up food, drinks and easy viewing of the races, but there’s a second option, too – the newly opened Glasshouse. This massive space boasts high ceilings, glass walls and on Melbourne Cup Day, prime viewing of the races, so if you want to get out of the sun then this is a great alternative to the rooftop.
Seagulls
It can be hard to get away from the glitz and glamour of the Gold Coast at the best of times, let alone in the middle of the Spring Racing Carnival, but Seagulls can help you out. It’s far from the most low-key option going around – they still encourage patrons to dress up and offer cash prizes for the best dressed – but the upmarket niche which so defines Melbourne Cup Day is a little less in-your-face here. Order from Seagulls’ expansive food and drinks menu, kick back, relax and watch the Flemington action on the big screen.
The Spring Racing Carnival is all about getting dressed up and hitting the town, so it’s no surprise that it’s quite a hit in the Gold Coast. From The Island to Burleigh Pavilion, there are plenty of places to do just that, while those after a more low-key experience are looked after by places like Seagulls and the Gold Coast Turf Club. Whatever you’re looking for this Melbourne Cup Day, the Gold Coast will have something for you.