Boutique hotels and resorts showcasing destination, art and luxury have made their glamorous mark in the hottest locales around the world. Now a 28-year-old "Melbourne-based entrepreneur", Louis Li, is hoping to do the same on the Mornington Peninsula.
His hotel project, Jackalope, opens in the Victorian coastal wine region in the next few weeks, promising "a conceptual approach to art, design, dining, and storytelling delivering a delicate interplay." Marketing speak aside and despite its namesake being a mythical creature spoken of in wild country yarns, this is no tall tale.
Jackelope has serious design cred, created in partnership with architect Sue Carr of Carr Design Group and furniture designers Zuster. Gardens are landscaped by Taylor Cullity Lethlean.
The hotel's 46 rooms comprise 38-square-metre Terrace or Vineyard View categories through to 85-square-metre Lairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces connect the interiors to the vineyard surrounds while inside, luxuries include black Japanese tubs and bath products made exclusively for the hotel by Hunter Lab.
Art is a big feature, starting with a seven-metre-tall sculpture of a jackalope – a mix between a jack rabbit and an antelope – by Melbourne artist Emily Floyd, at the entrance to the hotel. A black 30-metre infinity pool is accompanied by a pavilion available for spa treatments or private dining.
But this is, of course, excellent wine country. To that end, Jackelope features its own cellar door, Rare Hare, showcasing the products of the onsite winery and providing "immersive wine experiences" for guests. It's created by the designers behind Melbourne's hugely successful Chin Chin and Supernormal restaurants.
This is also an area renowned for great cuisine. Jackelope aims to be at the top of that game, too, with executive chef Guy Stanaway at the helm of the hotel's two restaurants: fine dining, Doot Doot Doot, and Rare Hare. Jackelope also features versatile function spaces.
Rooms $650 – $1200 a night. See jackalopehotels.com.
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