Celebrate Melbourne Cup Day in Whyalla with lunch, racing, prizes and plenty of fun
Make Melbourne Cup Day 2026 one to remember at the Sundowner Hotel Whyalla.
This year, we’re bringing together great food, racing excitement and a great cause with our Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon in the Bistro, followed by a Melbourne Cup After Party in the Front Bar.
Gather your friends, dress for the occasion and join us for one of Whyalla’s biggest Melbourne Cup celebrations.
Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon
Tuesday 3rd November 2026
11:30am
Sundowner Hotel Bistro
$75 per person
Your $75 ticket includes a three-course luncheon and a charitable donation to Ronald McDonald House, so you can enjoy Melbourne Cup Day while helping support a great cause.
There’ll also be more opportunities to get involved and give back throughout the afternoon, along with Melbourne Cup sweeps, games and plenty of prizes up for grabs.
Arrive from 11:30am and settle in before the festivities officially begin at 12pm. Lunch will be served from 12:15pm, with the meal wrapping up in plenty of time to turn your attention to the big screen for the race.
Your Melbourne Cup Luncheon ticket includes:
- Three-course Melbourne Cup luncheon
- Charitable donation included in your ticket
- Melbourne Cup sweeps
- Games and prizes
- Fundraising activities and raffles throughout the day
- The Melbourne Cup live on the big screen in the Bistro
- Special charity presentation
At just $75 per person, it’s an afternoon packed with value – and a chance to celebrate the race that stops the nation while supporting an important cause.
Melbourne Cup Luncheon Menu
Shared entrées
Loaded hummus, bruschetta tomatoes and basil oil, flatbread, arancini and warm olives.
Your choice of main
Chicken breast
Sweet potato mash, broccolini, mustard cream sauce and parmesan crisp
Atlantic salmon
Chat potatoes, rocket, shaved fennel, cherry tomatoes, currant and almond salad with lemon and dill vinaigrette
200g sirloin steak
Served medium with duck fat potatoes, asparagus and chimichurri
Dessert
Vanilla bean panna cotta
Raspberry coulis and pistachio crumb
Watch the Melbourne Cup live in Whyalla
Once lunch is finished, the focus turns to the track.
Catch all the Melbourne Cup action live on the big screen in the Bistro, with the race scheduled for 2:30pm.
Whether you’ve drawn a favourite in the sweep or you’re simply there for the atmosphere, there’s nothing quite like watching Melbourne Cup surrounded by a full room of race-day excitement.
Keep the celebrations going at our Melbourne Cup After Party
The race might finish, but Melbourne Cup Day at the Sundowner doesn’t.
After the luncheon and the main race, make your way to the Front Bar for our Melbourne Cup After Party.
With TAB available all day and the celebrations continuing after the final horses cross the line, there’s no need to head anywhere else.
Come for the luncheon. Stay for the race. Celebrate into the afternoon at the Sundowner. Giddy up!