If you aren’t entirely sure what a Jackalope is, you may not be alone. That is, unless you hail from Wyoming in the US, where several bills have been considered to make the Jackalope the State’s official mythological creature!!
The word jackalope is a portmanteau of jackrabbit and antelope and is used to describe a fabled creature of North America which is essentially a jackrabbit with antelope horns! The jackalope is subject to many outlandish and largely tongue-in-cheek claims embedded in tall tales about its habits. Jackalopes are said to be so dangerous that hunters are advised to wear stovepipes on their legs to keep from being gored. One of the ways to catch a jackalope is to entice it with whiskey, the fearsome creature’s beverage of choice. The jackalope is also known for its ability to imitate human voices, and according to legend when cowboys gathered by the campfire singing at night, jackalopes could be heard mimicking their voices or singing along, usually as a tenor. It is also said that jackalopes only breed during lightning flashes!!
Despite these wild and comical tales, the New York Times attributes the origin of the American Jackalope to a hunting outing in Wyoming in 1932 where two brothers, who were trained in taxidermy, returned from a jackrabbit hunt and tossed the carcasses beside a set of deer antlers. The accidental combination sparked the idea to create a Jackalope and the myth was born.
Jackalope Hotel is a long way from Wyoming, and is situated on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. This luxury boutique hotel references the mythological creature after which it is named through a carefully curated collection of art installations, which meld reality and surrealism in a subtle and enticing way.
Just an hours drive south of Melbourne, Jackalope is situated on the pristine Willow Creek Vineyard, affording spectacular sunset views over the rolling vine covered hillsides.
The first thing that strikes you upon arrival at Jackalope is the zinc-clad jet black exterior of the hotel, which is in stark contrast to the soft rolling rural landscape surrounding it. The second hard-to-miss ‘first impression’ is the 7 metre high, jet black Emily Floyd Jackalope sculpture, which stands proudly in the entrance and driveway to the hotel and is just one of a series of commissions by world renowned artists and designers.
The Rooms
Jackalope has 45 hotel rooms, or ‘designer dens’ as they’re aptly named on the website. We stayed in a Vineyard room which was pared back and minimalist in style, whilst still providing all the comfort and luxury one would expect from a hotel of this calibre. The room was furnished in monochromatic shades of grey, with an impressive black Japanese bath as the centre piece.
Whilst not exactly huge, the room was incredibly comfortable with floor to ceiling glass doors affording spectacular views over the vineyards, a small custom-made couch, and a heavenly cashmere throw on the bed – perfect for snuggling up under and watching the beautiful sunset over the landscape.
With custom-made Hunter LAB toiletries, from Melbourne’s natural skincare brand, which contain crushed grape skins from the hotel’s Willow Creek Vineyard, Samsung tablets, Bose speakers, and chic black bathrobes I was definitely not left wanting for anything in the lavish designer room.
If you prefer something a little larger the hotel also has two suites or ‘Lair rooms’, with penthouse-like dimensions, private terraces, indoor-outdoor fireplaces, and six-seater dining tables.
The Restaurants
Jackalope has two restaurants called Doot Doot Doot, and Rare Hare, in addition to a swanky club-like cocktail bar called Flaggerdoot.
Rare Hare is the more relaxed of the two restaurants serving delicious local produce and rustic shared plates cooked in a wood-fired oven. You can sit inside with views of the hotel and vines, or rather more appealingly there are huge timber tables outside, with chairs also dotted around the lawn. The food was absolutely superb and the vibe was chilled and earthy, the kind of spot where you can sit and laugh for hours with your friends while the sun dips over the vineyards. The website describes Rare Hare as ‘a food and wine affair with a devil-may-care air’! How divine?!
Doot Doot Doot is the rather more grown up glamorous restaurant at Jackalope. With a 10,000 lamp chandelier representing wine bubbles during fermentation, and impressive black high backed couches, the restaurant is uber cool and chic. Executive chef Guy Stanaway presents a five course degustation menu which is brimming with curiosity and creativity. There is also a private dining room, called Jackyak, available for up to 20 guests.
As a guest at the hotel, breakfast is served daily in the Doot Doot Doot dining room. It’s absolutely superb! Don’t even consider skipping it. Delicious.
The Art Installations
Jackalope is positively brimming with art, design and creative energy at every turn. The hotel’s creative narrative is known as Alchemy, and includes works by renowned artists such as Emily Floyd, Rolf Sachs, Rick Owens and Andrew Hazelwinkel among others. The creative energy at Jackalope is daring and evocative, and sets the hotel apart for its unique collaboration of industry leaders with the common goal of creating a new voice in high-end accommodation in Australia.
The Spa & Pool
Jackalope has a stunning 30 m infinity pool with timber decking, super comfy day beds, appropriately coloured black parasols, and views to die for.
The hotel spa is housed in a stark zinc-clad geometric structure known as the Geode which literally rises up out of the pool deck. It’s a feat of engineering in itself and offers delicious spa treatments including facials utilising plant-based edible products featuring botanicals and wildflowers. The spa is small with a compact menu, so I would strongly recommend booking a treatment well before you check in.
Out & About
The Mornington Peninsular offers a plethora of restaurants, cellar doors, hikes, golf courses, superb beaches and open-air art installations. If you’re keen to stretch you’re legs or check out the surrounding area, a few of our favourites are listed below;
Pt Leo Estate Restaurant & Sculpture Park – This stunning estate encompasses a winery, restaurant and sculpture park with views over Western Port Bay and Phillip Island. The perfect place for a superb long lunch followed by a picturesque stroll around the gardens dotted with 40 large scale sculptural works by Australian and international artists.
Polperro – Polperro Bistro is in the Red Hill Wine making region, and offers a gorgeous deck shaded by myrtle trees and serving delicious fresh local produce.
Port Phillip Estate – Port Phillip Estate has a cellar door, a fine dining restaurant and impressive modern architecture well worth a visit.
Wine Tasting – The region has on offer over 50 cellar doors to visit and taste wines. Some of the nearby favourites include Ten Minutes By Tractor, Crittenden Estate, Tuck’s Ridge and Montalto.
Bushranger’s Bay Walking Track – This 5.4 km coastal track was the setting for the movie ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, and offers breathtaking scenery and wildlife.
Merricks General Wine Store – Offering a bistro, wine sales, a small art gallery and local seasonal produce, this much loved general store is a step back in time with all the rustic charm of farming life. Perfect for scones and a glass of wine while you’re exploring.
Sorrento & Portsea – These divine towns offer a multitude of adventures from lazing on beaches, dining in chic cafes and restaurants, rock jumping and taking in some of Australia’s most beautiful real estate and coastal scenery.
Art Galleries – If you’re keen to explore more art than the amazing collection at Jackalope, then try The Cook Street Collective in Flinders and The Nook in Mornington, in addition to the Sculture Park at Pt Leo Estate.
Golf – Mornington Golf Course, The Dunes and Portsea all have superb golf courses.
Getting There
Jackalope is located at 166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria. By car, the hotel is approximately 90 minutes drive from the centre of Melbourne. The nearest airports are Tullamarine (90 minute drive), or Tyabb airport (20 minute drive) if you’re transferring via Helicopter.
A hire car is a great idea as it gives you the freedom to explore the stunning peninsular and surrounding beaches, however the Hotel does have cars and were more than happy to toss me keys to a superb Lexus to use during our recent stay.
What To Pack
At risk of sounding cliche, and given the strong focus on art and design at Jackalope, I would suggest you pack black. And let’s face it, black always works, especially in ever stylish Melbourne. Maybe designer jeans, cool boots or Philippe’s, a Rick Owens leather and horn rimmed glasses might do just the trick, with a felt fedora and a chic cashmere Faliero to keep out the evening chill. On the other hand, a superb Cab Sav will do that just as well.
It’s a cool pad, so I’d pack something chic and stylish, perhaps a little dressy if you’re dining at Doot Doot Doot. Oh, and don’t forget to pack swimmers (the pool is beautiful) and walking/yoga gear. The hotel offers some superb yoga journeys overlooking the stunning surrounding rural landscapes.
The Wrap Up
Jackalope sets a new standard in luxury accommodation on the Mornington Peninsular. A perfect weekend getaway with chic luxury accommodation and superb farm-to-fork cuisine. This is an uber stylish debut hotel with spectacular views over the vine clad countryside. I’m a big fan!! Loved it!! Grab a Pinot Noir and get involved.
