How To Watch Melbourne Cup Carnival In New Zealand

So you want to watch or access Melbourne Cup Carnival in New Zealand but can't? That's right, as only the Melbourne Cup is shown live on Sky Sports. 

It's annoying right! Given how much awesome racing and events are showed over the full week of racing in early November. 

how to watch cup carnival nz

Can I Watch Melbourne Cup Carnival In NZ?

Unfortunately Melbourne Cup Carnival is not available in New Zealand (yet anyway). But with the help of a premium VPN provider, you can bypass this restriction and watch on 10 Play which has all the Victoria racing club events including:

Watch Melbourne Cup Carnival

Fast Instant Access

From $1.99/mo

What is a VPN? 

A virtual private network (VPN) is a piece of software that runs in the background on your device and replaces your normal IP address with an overseas one.

With one click you can change your IP address to any country in the world. This makes it possible to unlock local content you usually couldn't access, fast and safe. 

Additionally a VPN allows you to remain secure online, by protecting your real identity from prying eyes such as your ISP and local authorities. 

VPN's don't track your usage either, allowing you to do whatever you like online. 

There's many VPN providers out there, but we only recommend the best and most affordable for New Zealand residents and tourists. 


How To Access Melbourne Cup Carnival With A VPN

There is no way to watch Melbourne Cup Carnival in New Zealand without using a VPN or Smart DNS provider. Fortunately these are very affordable to purchase. 

Follow this simple five step process to watch Melbourne Cup Carnival within minutes. 

1. Purchase Cheapest VPN Plan

Surfshark is one of the most affordable providers out there, with plans starting at $1.99USD per month. This works out to be around $3.15 per month in NZD. 

You can purchase with Paypal, VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Amazon Pay and Google Pay. A full 30 day money back guarantee is included. 

2. Download The Application

You'll receive an email with your login details. 

Additionally you'll be able to download their software for your device. 

They offer support for MacOS, Windows, Linux, FireTV, AppleTV, Android TV, iOS, Android, Xbox, Playstation, Google Chrome, Firefox and Roku. 

3. Login To Your VPN Account

Once the app is installed, you'll need to use the username and password to login. 

The app will remember your login details for future access. 

4. Activate & Choose Australian Server

You'll be able to change locations in a matter of seconds. Click connect and once the Surfshark logo lights up green you'll be connected. 

If you want fast speeds then choosing the Optimal location will be your best option. 

This is the MacOS version. They have apps for every device!

Currently they offer over 63 countries across 6 continents to choose from. 

5. Signup & Start Watching

Ensure you're connected to a location where the app is based, i.e. United States. 

Then it's time to visit 10 Play and signup for your free account. Once you've verified your account, you'll be able to watch their content.

You can then disconnect the VPN when you'e finished and reload again next time using the quick connect option. 


What is the Cup Carnival?

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is Australia’s most prestigious and famous horse racing competition. It brings together more than 100,000 people from various areas of the country and overseas in addition to the already existing Victoria state’s residents.

It’s a massive cultural event which of course focuses on horse racing but in addition focuses on fashion, food & entertainment as well. The festive activities occupy the city for the entire week and the horse racing is held in Flemington Racecourse.

What is Flemington Race Course?

The Flemington Racecourse can be considered as the place that started horse racing in Australia in the early 1870’s. 

The race track is 2.3 kilometres long and it hosts up to 120,000 spectators. Although the racecourse is the main focus for the event, people don’t only gather there.

The bars are filled with people, where they have a live connection with the racecourse and the streets of Melbourne are filled with Melbourne Cup themed activities.

Of course there are millions of people watching the event from the comfort of their own homes as well on 10 Play and Racing.com

Cup Carnival Public Holiday

It’s actually so influential to Melbourne’s people, that the entire state of Victoria has a public holiday on Melbourne Cup Day. There is even a phone app for the entire event called the Flemington Raceday Guide, to help guests operate throughout the week.

The next Melbourne Cup Carnival is set to take place from the 31st of October until the 7th of November, 2020. The day before the race there is also a massive parade that takes place in the Melbourne City Centre.

What You Can See At The Carnival

It includes free shows from live bands and you can actually see some of the horses from pretty close-up. When the race day finally arrives the next day, there are hundreds of millions of Australian dollars that people all across Australia have bet on the outcome.

Therefore the majority of the entire country tune-in to watch the race and hope for their best potential outcome. All throughout the week there is a festive vibe all over the city and you can witness the newest and greatest class of Australian entertainment.

Going To Carnival Cup

The tickets for the race day start from around AUD $90, but they usually sell-out pretty quick. There is however an enormous selection of different tickets and passes available for the entire week and particular days.

There is definitely something for everyone in the Melbourne Cup Carnival, as there is plenty of entertainment for children.

There is also a huge fashion event called the Kenedy Oaks Day. It can be looked at as an event that brings together people from across the entire country, but also attracts a lot of interest from the entire world.

Overall however, it is definitely a cultural experience that adds something unique to the Australian people’s lives.

There’s lots to look forward to when coming to the event, because in addition to the sports aspect the people who might not even be interested in the event itself, still come together and celebrate it as an important holiday. 

Truly a one of a kind experience for someone who’s never heard of it or attended before. 


Melbourne Cup Carnival New Zealand FAQ's

1. Do you have to be in Australia to watch Cup Carnival?

Well there's no coverage of the events in New Zealand. Some races are shown live on TAB which requires an active account or a Sky subscription. However the festivities aren't actually available to watch. 

2. Is Melbourne Cup Carnival available in NZ?

Yes, you can watch the races on TAB or Sky, but the festivies, fashion shows, competitions, parades etc are only shown in Australia. 

3. What is the price of Melbourne Cup Carnival?

There are various prices for tickets ranging from $90 up to $100,000+ for corporate tickets. Melbourne Cup Day is the most expensive racing experience in Australia with corporate boxes selling for millions of dollars. 

You can also watch for free online. Maybe place a bet or two. 

4. How do I get Melbourne Cup Carnival on the TV?

If you've got a smart TV, download the VPN app and then choose relevant Australian server. You'll be able to find 10 Play in the app store. 

If you can't you can always sideload the app onto your TV if it's supported using these links. 

Additionally you can install the VPN app on your router, if it's supported and this will allow you to cast content from the Hulu website on your laptop or smartphone to the TV. 

Chromecast does not work without a router VPN. 

5. Is Melbourne Cup Carnival coming to NZ?

There are no plans for Melbourne Cup Carnival to come to New Zealand as this is a Victorian racing event. 

6. What can I watch on Melbourne Cup Carnival? 

There is over 40 horse races, fashion shows, competitions and much more. On site you can sample the finest food and wine, beer, visit sponsors and checkout other performances as well as other festivities.