Home Away From Home: Escape the everyday at Jackalope Hotel

Bringing MONA vibes to the Mornington Peninsula, Jackalope Hotel is the Home Away From Home treat we have all been waiting for in 2021. The first indication that this is a stay like no other is the giant, inky part-jackrabbit, part-antelope artwork by artist Emily Floyd that looms over the entrance to the hotel as you pass through sculptural pyramids.

Dreamed up by the hotel’s owner, art lover and collector Louis Li, the scene begins an immersive art experience that continues through neo-noir aesthetics and the alchemy-inspired lobby. From start to finish, Jackalope offers a collaboration of art, design and hospitality with architecture by Carr Design Group, landscaping by TCL Landscape Design, and custom interior furniture from Zuster.

“A visionary brief was met with the creation of an iconic hotel design, redefinition of luxury on an international scale and one which takes guests on a sensory experience that re-imagines the hotel stay,” says Stephen McGarry, of Carr Design.

The architects used the framework of an 18th-century heritage house on the property, extending it into the landscape in a monolithic, metal and charred-timber building.

The myriad of reflective surfaces transforms the building into a piece of abstract art. “Upon arrival at the end of the long laneway and row of vines, the guest is greeted with an architecture that is unprecedented and unconventional with a simplicity and subtlety of strength and form, while taking cues and celebrating the 30-degree roof pitches of surrounding vernacular agricultural buildings,” McGarry says.

Within each of the 45 rooms is a commitment to tranquil, elegant spaces composed of stunning contemporary art and design‚ including Prometheus chandeliers by Christopher Boots and leather Autoban Nest Chairs.

Choose between the “lair” or “terrace” rooms, each with options for a deep onsen Japanese bath or vineyard views, all with rain showers and luxury, bespoke Hunter Lab bath products.

“The design concept sparks curiosity in an adventurous and edgy celebration of alchemy and transformation,” says McGarry. “We set out to create an experience that was mood-altering, a transformative escape from the everyday. It had to be avant garde, but primarily it had to capture the imagination and be memorable.”

Complete with a 30-metre onyx infinity pool overlooking the 11.3-hectare Willow Creek Vineyard, the hotel interlocks with a labyrinth of hard and soft landscaping by TCL.

The pool reflects the changing sky or star-filled atmosphere and is accompanied by a pavilion-like structure known as the Geode – dreamt up for intimate dining, spa and wellness events.

“The architecture and interiors that lie within spark curiosity, providing an experience rich in narrative and imagination where guests will encounter a transportive experience away from the every day, helping to redefine the term ‘destination hotel’ with an eclectic fusion of art, design, dining and storytelling,” McGarry says.

Jackalope Hotel compels you stay, either with a glass of wine on your private terrace or by heading to the cellar door for a complimentary wine tasting. The peninsula begs exploring but whether you’ll be able to leave the property is up to you.

While in Merricks North …

Rain Room

When at Jackalope, book a visit to the Rain Room. The immersive installation promises an experience like no other as you are invited to consider how art blends with technology.

Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

How handy to have a cellar door right at Jackalope’s door – pop into the Rare Hare vineyard for wine tastings and seasonal dishes cooked over the central wood fire with views across the vines.

Doot Doot Doot

Jackalope has its own hatted restaurant on site, so make sure to book. Chef Guy Stanaway, above, uses fresh ingredients from the hotel’s garden for a five-course, botanically inspired menu.

Peninsula Hot Springs

Is a trip to the Mornington Peninsula complete without a visit to the hot springs? Try something new with the Moonlit Bathing experience at the Spa Dreaming Centre, enjoying geothermal pools under a starry sky.