Hotel Review: Jackalope, Mornington Peninsula

The problem with checking in to the luxurious surrounds of Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula is you’ll never want to leave.

Whichever way you look at it, Jackalope is one sexy beast. This architecturally designed, art-focused hotel, set on the edge of a vineyard, is dark, moody and just about as far removed from a country inn as one could possibly imagine. Sprawl on your terrace overlooking the countryside, bask on the edge of the infinity pool, or dress up for a memorable dinner beneath a stunning light installation. There’s luxury at every turn. Planning a visit to the coastal region? Read on for our review of Jackalope, Mornington Peninsula.

Location

Jackalope is in the middle of Victoria’s thriving Mornington Peninsula region and is the perfect base for a long weekend exploring the area’s wineries, restaurants, markets and beaches. A soak and a glass of Champagne at the Peninsula Hot Springs is also a great way to pass the time.

a couple drinking a glass of Champagne — While away the afternoon with a glass of Champagne. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Style and character

When you picture a country hotel you may envisage shabby-chic interiors with chintzy curtains and Persian rugs. Jackalope, just over an hour from Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, has taken this cliche, gutted it and turned it on its head.

the chic interior of Jackalope — Jackalope boasts elevated interiors. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Owner Louis Li purchased the 143-year-old Willow Creek homestead and vineyard in 2013 and set about creating his first hotel on the property.

the black aluminium structure in triangular shape at Jackalope — The striking aluminium Jackalope sign. (Image: Visit Victoria)

With a background in television, he wanted to create something theatrical and called on the Carr design group to help him in this quest. The result is a jaw-dropping black aluminium structure that overlooks rows of grapevines. It’s a credit to the design team that they managed to create something visually spectacular without it becoming an eyesore on the rolling landscape.

the sprawling vineyards at Jackalope — The venue overlooks rows of grapevines. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Everything here has a sense of occasion. Contemporary art is the heart and soul of this boutique hotel, and a seven-metre-tall jackalope sculpture by artist Emily Floyd greets you as you approach the front door. (For the uninitiated, a jackalope is a mythical creature that is half jackrabbit, half antelope.)

a seven-metre-tall jackalope sculpture by artist Emily Floyd — The Jackalope sculpture by Emily Floyd is an ode to the mythical creature. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Facilities

As you’d expect with a five-star hotel, the service is on point. Little inclusions – a Lexus and driver to whisk us to our lunch booking at nearby Laura restaurant (highly recommended), a refreshing Mecca face mist on our pillow at turndown, and a leather Jackalope luggage tag gifted at check-out – gave the whole experience a sense of luxury.

While we didn’t sample them ourselves, the onsite spa treatments get rave reviews. You can choose to be pampered in the poolside geodome (it can also be booked for private dining experiences) or in the comfort of your own room.

an outdoor pool at Jackalope — Laze by the pool. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Rooms

The destination hotel comprises 46 rooms, including two suites and one studio-style apartment.

We booked a night in a terrace room during off-peak season. On the website, this style of room is referred to as ‘connecting with the rural surrounds’, which it turns out is marketing speak for ‘this room looks back onto the car park’.

a brightly coloured interior at Jackalope — The interior takes on a moody vibe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

At check-in, we were lucky enough to be upgraded to a room with a view of the vineyard. The orientation of these rooms means you can sit in a robe and enjoy the sunset from your private balcony, drinking in the view of the vines beyond the hotel’s very Instagrammable 30-metre black infinity pool. It’s a bloody great way to end your day.

the living space at Jackalope — Take in the natural scenery from your balcony. (Image: Visit Victoria)

In keeping with the building’s darkly hued aesthetic, the room is decorated in charcoal tones, providing a moody ambience. There’s an excellent king-sized bed – the sort that has you wondering why you don’t have one of them at home – and a bathroom with bespoke Hunter Lab amenities and a double-headed rain shower. It was mildly disappointing that this particular room didn’t have a bath, which is a big part of a luxury hotel experience for many people.

a couple entering their suite at Jackalope — Each room is swathed in charcoal tones. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The room tariff includes complimentary breakfast and mini-bar, complete with chips, cans of cider, beer, vodka and soda, and an array of soft drinks. There’s also an in-room iPad that connects to a broad range of on-demand movies.

the Lair suite at Jackalope — Sleep in comfort in the Lair suite. (Image: Visit Victoria)

If you really want to push the boat out, the top-of-the-line suites, called Lairs, include hand deliveries of popcorn and locally sourced ice cream and bookable luxury transfers to anywhere within 10 kilometres. They also have a double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace.

a couple entering the reception area at Jackalope — The hotel has a beautifully warm and friendly ambience. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Food and Drink

There’s no shortage of dining options if you can’t be bothered leaving the confines of the hotel. Doot Doot Doot is a one-hatted fine-dining restaurant offering a three-course menu, with added snacks, that brings together Asian flavours and the plentiful produce from local providores. The space has a beautifully warm ambience thanks to Jan Flook’s ceiling light installation of 10,000 amber globes that dim and brighten with a shimmering effect.

pouring wine into a glass in front of a man sitting at Jackalope — Indulge in a delicious lunch. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The hotel’s more casual bistro, Rare Hare, also offers a wine and food store, so you can pick up some local delicacies to take home. If you’ve overindulged at lunch, this is the spot for a lighter supper. For instance, you could just order the salumi selection or one of the seasonal dishes, like wood-fired eggplant with red miso and furikake, and a glass of wine.

a table-top view of food plates on the table, Jackalope — You’ll be spoilt for choice with the lunch and dinner menu. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Flaggerdoot is Jackalope’s cocktail bar, set in the property’s original 1876 house that has been tastefully incorporated into the hotel’s sleek redesign. It’s a playful area, with contemporary art and eclectic touches, such as an electric blue billiards table. You’re offered a complimentary welcome drink in Flaggerdoot upon arrival.

(Still catching up on the lingo? A flaggerdoot is the collective noun for a group of jackalopes, and a doot doot doot is the leader of a flaggerdoot.)

a couple dining at Jackalope — The fine-dining restaurant offers a three-course menu. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakfast is included in the room tariff and veers from your standard hotel buffet situation. Guests are invited to select from a small continental selection of pastries and cereals, as well as from a menu of hot, seasonal à la carte options, usually with some more adventurous choices.

two cocktail glasses at Jackalope — Enjoy a tipple or two at Jackalope’s cocktail bar. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Experiences

Alongside Jackalope’s black pool looking over the vines is a heated infinity spa and an infrared sauna. There’s a day spa in a secluded part of the hotel, where you can book facials and body treatments, some using products made using pinot grapes.

Start the day with a restorative yoga session in the sunshine. Later in the day, there are wine tastings and vineyard walks with the winery team to enjoy, as well as tours of the cellar, kitchen garden and the hotel’s art and design.

a couple enjoying a wine-tasting session at Jackalope — Make the most of your time by sampling the wine on offer. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Access for guests with disabilities?

Disabled access is available. Contact the hotel for more details when booking.

Family-friendly?

Jackalope only accepts children over the age of 12. It is a more refined adult stay anyway.

Details

Best for: Weekenders seeking extraordinary food, sleek architectural design and easy access to the beach and countryside.

Address: 166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North, Mornington Peninsula VIC

Cost: From $650 a night.

a couple carrying luggage while heading into Jackalope — Book a romantic weekend away at the chic and sleek Jackalope. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Discover the best wineries on the Mornington Peninsula.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

Art, wine and luxury collide at Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula