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The Emirates Melbourne Cup held aloft during a glorious sunset in Longreach, central west Queensland
The Emirates Melbourne Cup held aloft during a glorious sunset in Longreach, central west Queensland

Melbourne Cup on tour around Australia

SEE amazing photos of the Melbourne Cup as it tours Australia before the big race.

WITH the first Tuesday in November only a couple days away, the Emirates Melbourne Cup has arrived back in Melbourne ready for its ultimate Flemington destination.

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The iconic 18-carat gold, $200,000 trophy has been travelling the length and breadth of the our big brown land, bringing joy for ordinary and extraordinary Australians who get to hold the People’s Cup.

From Elephant Rock in Kununurra, Western Australia, to a camel farm near Alice Springs, the Wolf Blass winery in South Australia, the Longreach Cup in Queensland, to Shoalhaven Heads in NSW, across the ditch to New Zealand and back to Victoria, the Cup Tour has covered plenty of territory and been pawed by plenty of hands.

Always in white gloves, of course.

The Melbourne Cup Tour is in its 15th year uniting communities, visiting nearly 400 towns and cities and fast approaching 500,000km on the road.

Kununurra helicopter pilot James Bondfield with the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Elephant Rock.
Kununurra helicopter pilot James Bondfield with the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Elephant Rock.
Lottie, 5, with the Emirates Melbourne Cup in Kununurra.
Lottie, 5, with the Emirates Melbourne Cup in Kununurra.
Jeremy Kinnon (left) and Lane Kinnon, brothers who ride coach horses for a living at Kinnon & Co Outback, Alice Springs. Jeremy was born on Melbourne Cup day in 1995.
Jeremy Kinnon (left) and Lane Kinnon, brothers who ride coach horses for a living at Kinnon & Co Outback, Alice Springs. Jeremy was born on Melbourne Cup day in 1995.
Jeremy and Lane Kinnon take the Cup for a ride.
Jeremy and Lane Kinnon take the Cup for a ride.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup at dawn. Shoalhaven Heads outside Nowra in NSW.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup at dawn. Shoalhaven Heads outside Nowra in NSW.
2001 Melbourne Cup winning trainer, Sheila Laxon, holds the Emirates Melbourne Cup aloft on Pixie the camel at the Pyndan Camel Farm just outside Alice Springs.
2001 Melbourne Cup winning trainer, Sheila Laxon, holds the Emirates Melbourne Cup aloft on Pixie the camel at the Pyndan Camel Farm just outside Alice Springs.
Captain Steven Smith with the Cup aboard the HMS Courage ahead of the Todd River Regatta, Alice Springs.
Captain Steven Smith with the Cup aboard the HMS Courage ahead of the Todd River Regatta, Alice Springs.
Children with the Cup at the Santa Teresa Racetrack, 80km southeast of Alice Springs.
Children with the Cup at the Santa Teresa Racetrack, 80km southeast of Alice Springs.
At the Santa Teresa Racetrack, 80km south-east of Alice Springs.
At the Santa Teresa Racetrack, 80km south-east of Alice Springs.
A bush rider from Santa Teresa with the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
A bush rider from Santa Teresa with the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
VRC chairman Amanda Elliot with the Emirates Melbourne Cup and the Longreach Jockey Club chairman with the Longreach Cup.
VRC chairman Amanda Elliot with the Emirates Melbourne Cup and the Longreach Jockey Club chairman with the Longreach Cup.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup enjoys a glorious sunset in Longreach, Queensland.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup enjoys a glorious sunset in Longreach, Queensland.
Joe Agresta, former trackwork rider for Bart Cummings, enjoys a glass of red at the Wolf Blass winery in the Barossa Valley.
Joe Agresta, former trackwork rider for Bart Cummings, enjoys a glass of red at the Wolf Blass winery in the Barossa Valley.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup being brought to the Longreach Cup Day presentation.
The Emirates Melbourne Cup being brought to the Longreach Cup Day presentation.
Julia Wigglesworth at the Kununurra Aged Care Facility.
Julia Wigglesworth at the Kununurra Aged Care Facility.
John Lait, 59. John is the oldest ever jockey to ride at the Longreach Cup. He has ridden more than 1500 races.
John Lait, 59. John is the oldest ever jockey to ride at the Longreach Cup. He has ridden more than 1500 races.
A future champion? Unnamed foal - by Zoustar out of Locket - with the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
A future champion? Unnamed foal - by Zoustar out of Locket - with the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-cup-on-tour-around-australia/news-story/1ff02361e4d222712ab9002b0e36d498