Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday in NSW?

Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday in the state of Victoria, Australia. But not in New South Wales.

What is the Melbourne Cup?

The Melbourne Cup is known as the race that stops a nation. It is the most famous and widely-watched horse race in Australia. The equivalents in the UK and the US would be the Grand National and the Kentucky Derby.

14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne

Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.

Does Australia have a public holiday for a horse race?

One thing visitors to Australia tend to find quite funny is that Australia has a public holiday for a horse race. The Melbourne Cup is so popular that Australians are given a day off work.

But not all Australians…

👇 7 great day trips while you’re in Melbourne 👇

Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.

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Is Melbourne Cup Day a NSW public holiday?

Melbourne Cup Day is only a public holiday in the state of Victoria. It is not a public holiday in New South Wales, although many firms will pause work to allow staff to watch the race.

13 brilliant experiences in Sydney you should book

The Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

(💲Great value 💲) Tick off several bucket list items on a highlights-packed Blue Mountains day tour.
Get perfect views of the world’s most beautiful city on a Sydney Harbour helicopter tour.
Save money with a multi-attraction pass.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Enjoy the romance of a tall ship cruise on Sydney Harbour.
Eat all you can at the Skyfeast at the top of Sydney Tower.
See migrating humpbacks – on a whale-watching cruise.
(Highly recommended ✅) Go behind the scenes of Australia’s most famous building on an Opera House tour.
Dine as the city lights up on sunset dinner cruise around the harbour.
Combine beers and stories on a historic pubs tour through the convict-era Rocks district.
Stand on your board and catch waves during Bondi Beach surfing lessons.
Go to wombat and kangaroo-spotting hotspots on a Southern Highlands tour.
Enjoy Sydney’s wild side on a Manly snorkelling & nature walk.
(🥇Top choice in Sydney) And, best of all, paddle to hidden beaches on a harbour kayaking adventure.

Where is the Melbourne Cup held?

The Melbourne Cup is held at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Hence while the race is big all over the country, it has extra prominence in Victoria.

When does the Melbourne Cup take place?

The Melbourne Cup takes place on the first Tuesday of November every year. As it’s on a Tuesday, many Victorians will book the preceding Monday off so they can have a four day weekend.

Future Melbourne Cup dates

The Melbourne Cup dates for the next few years are:

2023 Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 7 November.
2024 Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 5 November.
2025 Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 4 November.
2026 Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 3 November.
2027 Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 2 November.