Cup will runneth over in NZ too

Kiwis are set to join in on the Melbourne Cup Day mayhem. Photo / Getty Images

It might be Australia's biggest day, but the tills will ring loudly and the bubbly will flow on this side of the Tasman as well on Tuesday.

Melbourne Cup Day is big business and the 150th running of the event at Flemington will be no different.

Taxi companies and bars and restaurants in Auckland expect to double their normal Tuesday takings as the race that stops a nation in Australia has a big impact here, too.

Hospitality Association national operations manager Scott Necklen said it was one of the biggest days of the year. "It certainly is a day that people get out and enjoy themselves and have a bit of a flutter," he said.

Alert Taxis managing director Robert Van Heiningen said the workload for his 500 drivers typically doubled on Melbourne Cup Day.

"We would probably book 5000 or 6000 jobs for the day. It's a massive day for us," he said.

People wanted to go "all over the place" but typical locations included bars and Ellerslie racecourse, which has a meeting on Tuesday.

Many Auckland bars are staging events to draw in the punters.

A $60 ticket to the Viaduct's Degree Bar included a glass of bubbles or beer, buffet lunch and a bet runner to save patrons the trip to the TAB. General manager Dayna Siarkiewicz said the bar usually became busier as the day progressed, building towards the cup at 5pm.

"For the big race the place just packs out. We'll be packed to the rafters. We aim to double what we usually take on a Tuesday," she said.

In Parnell, tickets to the Melbourne Cup Day Long Lunch at Iguacu Restaurant and Bar have sold out.

The 130 people attending the $75 event will be served a three-course lunch and be entertained by a fashion show and live music.