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The coveted Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy soared great heights, negotiating its way through a pristine tropical rainforest canopy to take in the panoramic views above the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

The Cup travelled to Cairns as part of the Far North Queensland leg of the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour.

Cairns was selected by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) as one of 33 destinations on the Tour’s 118 day journey across Australia, New Zealand and for the first time, Malaysia.

Following the Skyrail experience the Cup travelled to the Tjapukai Indigenous Cultural Park, where students from the Cairns West Indigenous School paid their respects to the indigenous Australians who have contributed to Australia’s rich racing industry.

The Cup was joined by Wendy Green, co-owner of 1999 Melbourne Cup champion Rogan Josh.

Graham Thornton from the Cairns Jockey Club said the Cairns community was delighted to take the famous trophy aboard the scenic railway.

“It was an honour to show off our beautiful rainforest to such a notable and distinguished icon in racing, the illustrious Emirates Melbourne Cup,” Mr Thornton said.

“It has been overwhelming to see the entire Cairns community unite in celebration of the magic of the Cup and share in the history of the great race,” Mr Thornton concluded.

Whilst in Cairns the Cup will also travel to Cannon Park Racecourse to take part in the Cairns Cup Race Day celebrations.

Residents in Atherton and Tolga shared their experiences with the Cup on social media using #EmiratesMelbourneCup and #PeoplesCup. Images from the Tour so far can be viewed at: bit.ly/PeoplesCup2015.

The 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup will return to Melbourne on Monday 26 October, ahead of the running of the 155th Emirates Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.