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From Paris to Port Fairy: This year’s Melbourne Cup Tour pulls out all the stops

Olivia Harris
1 min read·October 30, 2023 - 6:16AM
News Corp Australia Network

The annual Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour has nearly concluded, with just one stop remaining. From London to Tokyo, Ballarat to Broome, this 18-carat gold trophy has seen it all.

Since its inaugural journey in 2003, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour has travelled more than 900,000km and visited more than 590 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations. This year, the Victoria Racing Club received applications from 99 communities across Australia and the world to host this $600,000 18-carat-gold trophy.

Throughout the years, the tour has engaged with tens of thousands of people and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives. We take a look at this year’s highlights.

Broome, WA: The Melbourne Cup cruises the sands of Cable Beach with these camel companions. Picture: Colin Murty
Broome, WA: The Melbourne Cup cruises the sands of Cable Beach with these camel companions. Picture: Colin Murty
Koroit, VIC: From spuds to stakes - the Melbourne Cup tour meets potato farmers Paul McCutcheon, Leo Carey and Jack McCutcheon in their potato field. Picture: Jay Town
Koroit, VIC: From spuds to stakes - the Melbourne Cup tour meets potato farmers Paul McCutcheon, Leo Carey and Jack McCutcheon in their potato field. Picture: Jay Town
Cunnamulla, QLD: Local residents excitedly welcome the Cup to the town centre. Picture: Jay Town.
Cunnamulla, QLD: Local residents excitedly welcome the Cup to the town centre. Picture: Jay Town.
Darwin, NT: 1994 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Wayne Harris unveils the Cup’s wild side at Crocosaurus Cove. Picture: Helen Orr
Darwin, NT: 1994 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Wayne Harris unveils the Cup’s wild side at Crocosaurus Cove. Picture: Helen Orr
Merrijig, VIC: The Cup visits Charlie Lovick, star of the film 'The Man from Snowy River', and his thoroughbred ex-race horses that he has re-purposed. Picture: Zoe Phillips
Merrijig, VIC: The Cup visits Charlie Lovick, star of the film 'The Man from Snowy River', and his thoroughbred ex-race horses that he has re-purposed. Picture: Zoe Phillips
Tokyo, Japan: Bonnie Lane disrupts the crowd at Shibuya Crossing as part of the tour. Picture: Getty Images
Tokyo, Japan: Bonnie Lane disrupts the crowd at Shibuya Crossing as part of the tour. Picture: Getty Images
Thargomindah, QLD: On the sprawling landscapes of Picarilli Station, the Glasson family and their woolly residents welcome the Melbourne Cup Tour with open arms. Picture: Jay Town
Thargomindah, QLD: On the sprawling landscapes of Picarilli Station, the Glasson family and their woolly residents welcome the Melbourne Cup Tour with open arms. Picture: Jay Town
Port Fairy, VIC: Beach vibes and Melbourne Cup magic merge as Anne McGrath and Leo Dwyer take a leisurely ride through the surf. Picture: Jay Town
Port Fairy, VIC: Beach vibes and Melbourne Cup magic merge as Anne McGrath and Leo Dwyer take a leisurely ride through the surf. Picture: Jay Town
London, UK: 38 years after Princess Diana’s day at Flemington, her nieces Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer welcome the Cup in traditional style. Picture: Kyle Galvin
London, UK: 38 years after Princess Diana’s day at Flemington, her nieces Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer welcome the Cup in traditional style. Picture: Kyle Galvin
Nagambie, VIC: Grunt comes out to meet the Cup on its tour of Yulong Stud Farm. Picture: Jay Town
Nagambie, VIC: Grunt comes out to meet the Cup on its tour of Yulong Stud Farm. Picture: Jay Town
Adelaide, SA: John Letts, dual winner of the Melbourne Cup, alongside WBBL Strikers players Annie O’Neil and Maddie Penna take the Cup to the top of the Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed
Adelaide, SA: John Letts, dual winner of the Melbourne Cup, alongside WBBL Strikers players Annie O’Neil and Maddie Penna take the Cup to the top of the Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed
Macedon, VIC: Franky the koala gets up close and personal with the Cup on a visit to Wild Action Zoo. Picture: Jay Town
Macedon, VIC: Franky the koala gets up close and personal with the Cup on a visit to Wild Action Zoo. Picture: Jay Town
Camooweal, QLD: The Cup pays a visit to the RFDS, where advanced care paramedic Jamie Leonard takes charge. Picture: Jay Town
Camooweal, QLD: The Cup pays a visit to the RFDS, where advanced care paramedic Jamie Leonard takes charge. Picture: Jay Town
Paris, France: The Melbourne Cup does a spot of sightseeing in the City of Light. Picture: Supplied
Paris, France: The Melbourne Cup does a spot of sightseeing in the City of Light. Picture: Supplied
Gold Coast, QLD: Legendary jockey Glen Boss joins Astrid Vandenboss and T.J. the horse as the Melbourne Cup continues its tour at the Australian Outback Spectacular. Picture: Adam Head
Gold Coast, QLD: Legendary jockey Glen Boss joins Astrid Vandenboss and T.J. the horse as the Melbourne Cup continues its tour at the Australian Outback Spectacular. Picture: Adam Head
Launceston, TAS: An inquisitive wombat meets 2007 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd at Tasmania Zoo. Picture: Supplied
Launceston, TAS: An inquisitive wombat meets 2007 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michael Rodd at Tasmania Zoo. Picture: Supplied
Port Fairy, VIC: Sam and Matt Hyland, Tim Auld, Des Gleeson and Nick Williams celebrate the Cup’s enduring legacy with the 2023 edition and the cherished 1985 Cup won by What a Nuisance. Picture: Jay Town
Port Fairy, VIC: Sam and Matt Hyland, Tim Auld, Des Gleeson and Nick Williams celebrate the Cup’s enduring legacy with the 2023 edition and the cherished 1985 Cup won by What a Nuisance. Picture: Jay Town
Mount Isa, QLD: The Melbourne Cup’s youngest fan, 2-year-old Georgia, shares the spotlight as the tour continues to the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo HQ. Picture: Jay Town
Mount Isa, QLD: The Melbourne Cup’s youngest fan, 2-year-old Georgia, shares the spotlight as the tour continues to the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo HQ. Picture: Jay Town
Boort, VIC: Horsepower unites as Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, Greg Hall, takes The Cup on a tour of the town’s Agriculture and Truck Show. Picture: Jay Town
Boort, VIC: Horsepower unites as Melbourne Cup-winning jockey, Greg Hall, takes The Cup on a tour of the town’s Agriculture and Truck Show. Picture: Jay Town
Boulia, QLD: The Melbourne Cup takes to the sand as Glen Boss competes with Billy the Camel at the Boulia Camel Races. Picture: Jay Town
Boulia, QLD: The Melbourne Cup takes to the sand as Glen Boss competes with Billy the Camel at the Boulia Camel Races. Picture: Jay Town
Ballarat, VIC: Pupils of the Ajay Equestrian Centre look after the Cup after training. Picture: Jay Town
Ballarat, VIC: Pupils of the Ajay Equestrian Centre look after the Cup after training. Picture: Jay Town
Thargomindah, QLD: The Melbourne Cup takes centre stage under the brilliance of the Milky Way. Picture: Jay Town
Thargomindah, QLD: The Melbourne Cup takes centre stage under the brilliance of the Milky Way. Picture: Jay Town
Cranbourne, VIC: Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip reminisces at Ciaron Maher Racing Club. Picture: Alex Coppel
Cranbourne, VIC: Melbourne Cup champion Gold Trip reminisces at Ciaron Maher Racing Club. Picture: Alex Coppel
York, UK: Horse racing presenter Francesca Cumani presents the Cup at York Racecourse. Picture: Hannah Ali
York, UK: Horse racing presenter Francesca Cumani presents the Cup at York Racecourse. Picture: Hannah Ali
Merrijig, VIC: Charlie Lovick and Clara McCormack ride the Melbourne Cup off into the sunset. Picture: Zoe Phillips
Merrijig, VIC: Charlie Lovick and Clara McCormack ride the Melbourne Cup off into the sunset. Picture: Zoe Phillips

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/photos/from-paris-to-port-fairy-this-years-melbourne-cup-tour-pulls-out-all-the-stops/news-story/c20b8ef4a8de2ce62f32353a6f961e1d