Melbourne Cup: Race that stops the nation brings cash injection to Far North

The race that stops the nation is already a winner for businesses across Cairns, with many events selling out within hours of releasing tickets. Find out where you can watch the race.

THE race that stops the nation is bringing a welcome boost to businesses across Cairns, with many events selling out within hours of releasing tickets.

The Melbourne Cup might look a bit different this year but it hasn’t stopped restaurants and other venues from innovating and doing what they can to host guests.

Nu Nu Restaurant at Palm Cove is one business to have reached its capacity weeks before the big day.

The Far North’s iconic Melbourne Cup beach horse race will have a different look this year. Nu Nu Restaurant at Palm Cove has been running the popular event for more than 10 years, but this year will be running a hobby horse race. Mo and Jason Rowbottom with Victoria Carpenter and Amy Escott from Nu Nu restaurant with the hobby horses ready for the day. Picture: Stewart McLean

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Co-owner Mo Rowbottom said tickets for their six-course Cup luncheon on Tuesday sold out within minutes.

“We quietly put 80 tickets on our website without any advertising and it sold out in less than 10 minutes,” Mrs Rowbottom said.

“Our website crashed, our phone lines went down because so many customers were desperately trying to buy tickets.

“People are still ringing us daily to see if they can get in and be on the waitlist.

“It was so incredible and so amazing that the local community want to get together to have a good time, to raise money for a good cause.”

Nu Nu will be raising money for the FNQ Hospital foundation, something they have been doing for 15 years.

NuNu Restaurant at Palm Cove ran the popular Melbourne Cup Day race on the beach last year. Lily Bisset-O'Shea on Zena held out Tessa Grondsma on Free in the 2019 event. PICTURE: STEWART MCLEAN

They will also be holding a hobby horse race for the first time as they’re unable to host their popular live horse race on the beach.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Ms Rowbottom said.

“It will still raise lots of money and will be very funny.

“We’ve always had the only live horse race on the beach on Melbourne Cup day and now maybe we’re going to have the only hobby horse race.”

WHERE TO ENJOY CUP DAY IN CAIRNS

From a hobby horse race on the beach to extravagant luncheons, fashionistas and punters alike are keen to celebrate this year’s Melbourne Cup.

A range of venues across Cairns reached capacity weeks in advance and are sold out, including C'est Bon French Restaurant Cairns, Nu Nu Restaurant, Ollie’s Italian, Pullman Cairns International, Reef Hotel Casino, Tamarind Restaurant Cairns, and Salt House.

But there are a range of other venues where you can watch the famous race across Cairns, including:

■ Brothers Cairns

■ Bungalow Hotel

■ Cairns RSL Club

■ Dunwoody’s Tavern

■ Edge Hill Bowls Club

■ Hemingway’s Brewery FNQ

■ Fuller Sports Club Edmonton

■ KUR-Cow Barnwell Farm

■ O’Sheas Restaurant at Machans Beach

■ The Backyard Cairns

■ Trinity Beach Sports Club

Most venues recommended booking ahead for meals.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup: Race that stops the nation brings cash injection to Far North