Best for
- Design-conscious couples
- Wine region weekenders from Melbourne
- Foodies seeking a hatted restaurant and vineyard setting
Jackalope Hotel
Dark luxury on a Mornington Peninsula vineyard
Bold, dark, and artfully theatrical
- Two Michelin Keys with 46 rooms on an 11-hectare vineyard
- Doot Doot Doot hatted restaurant beneath a 10,000-globe chandelier
- 30-metre black infinity pool overlooking pinot noir and chardonnay vines
Luxury Hotel · Merricks North
The luxury case for Jackalope Hotel.
A design-driven 46-room hotel set on LL Vineyard in Merricks North, Jackalope channels an alchemical narrative through charred timber architecture, a curated art collection, and two Michelin Keys. Its black infinity pool, hatted Doot Doot Doot restaurant, and Flaggerdoot cocktail bar make it one of Australia's most visually striking luxury stays.
The mood
Bold, dark, and artfully theatrical
Ideal stay
2 to 3 nights
Why it earns the rate
No other Australian hotel commits this fully to a singular design vision while backing it up with Michelin-recognised hospitality and a working vineyard.
Jackalope's 46 rooms split into five categories, all finished in the same dark palette of custom Zuster furniture, Tom Dixon amenities, and heated floors. Every room includes a private terrace, and the material quality is consistent from the lead-in Terrace to the top-tier Lair suites.
The Vineyard rooms are the sweet spot: ground or first-floor positions with direct lines over the pinot noir and chardonnay vines, and the first-floor Vineyard with Bath adds a deep-soak Japanese stone bath. The two Lair suites (85 sqm plus a 30 sqm terrace) are a different proposition entirely, with a double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace, private wine cellar, kitchenette, and a Christopher Boots crystal lighting installation overhead.
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Every stay includes seasonal breakfast at Doot Doot Doot, a daily-refreshed minibar, essential wine tasting at the cellar door, bottomless popcorn and ice cream, and complimentary Lexus transfers within 10km. It is one of the most generous inclusion packages in Australian luxury hospitality.
Three venues cover the full range from casual vineyard lunch to one of Victoria's most striking fine-dining rooms.
**Doot Doot Doot** is the flagship, open nightly from 6pm. Group Executive Chef Michael Wickham builds a seasonal, customisable tasting menu around local produce and the hotel's own kitchen garden. The room itself, beneath a ceiling of 10,000 hand-blown glass globes, is one of the most photographed restaurant interiors in the country.
**Flaggerdoot** occupies the restored 1876 McCormick House and operates as part cocktail bar, part gallery. The drinks list leans on garden-to-glass infusions and experimental distillation, served in a space of herringbone floors, open fires, marble bar, and a very blue pool table. It opens at 5pm on weekdays and 2pm on weekends.
**Rare Hare Wine and Food Store** is the daytime anchor, serving communal, share-style modern Australian food from a wood-fired oven. The wines are made on site from the surrounding LL Vineyard, and the indoor/outdoor seating puts the vines directly in view.
Jackalope is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is a hotel that chose a singular vision, the alchemical transformation of raw materials into gold, and committed to it completely. The charred timber exterior, neon-lit corridors, and curated art collection (Emily Floyd, Rick Owens, Tracey Emin, Random International) create an atmosphere that feels closer to a contemporary gallery than a country retreat.
What elevates it beyond aesthetics is the substance behind the design. Two Michelin Keys validate the hospitality. Doot Doot Doot consistently delivers one of Victoria's most memorable dining experiences. The 30-metre black infinity pool, set against the rolling green of LL Vineyard, has become one of the most recognisable hotel images in Australia. And the all-inclusive approach to room rates, covering breakfast, minibar, wine tasting, and daily experiences, removes the transactional layer that can undermine a luxury stay.
The Mornington Peninsula location puts you within striking distance of Pt. Leo Estate, Ten Minutes by Tractor, and some of the country's best cool-climate wineries, all reachable in under 20 minutes. Melbourne is 75 minutes away, close enough for a weekend escape, far enough to feel like a proper departure.
Is It For You?
Is Jackalope Hotel right for you?
Less ideal if
- Families with children under 12 (adults-only policy)
- Guests who prefer classic, light-filled hotel interiors over dark theatrical design
Atmosphere
Cinematic and brooding, more gallery than country retreat
Ideal stay
Weekend (2-3 nights)
Why splurge
No other Australian hotel commits this fully to a singular design vision while backing it up with Michelin-recognised hospitality and a working vineyard.
Rooms
Rooms & suites
Editorial pickVineyard with Bath for the best value vineyard views and Japanese soaking tub. The Lair suite if you want the double-sided fireplace and private wine cellar.
Lair (Signature Suite)
Only two on property. The double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace, Japanese soaking tub, and private wine cellar make this feel like a standalone residence. Christopher Boots lighting, Autoban Nest Chair, and custom Zuster furniture throughout.
- Size
- 85 sqm plus 30 sqm terrace
- View
- Sunset vineyard views over LL Vineyard
- Sleeps
- Up to 3 guests (12+)
- Best for
- Milestone celebrations and couples wanting the complete Jackalope experience
- Double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace
- Japanese soaking tub and double rain showers
- Private wine cellar and kitchenette
- 6-seater dining table
- Guaranteed Doot Doot Doot dinner reservation
- Complimentary Lexus transfers within 20km
Vineyard with Bath
The most popular upgrade. First-floor positioning gives expansive views across the vines, and the deep-soak Japanese stone bath elevates the room from comfortable to indulgent.
- Size
- 38 sqm plus 6 sqm terrace
- View
- First-floor vineyard views with sunset aspect
- Sleeps
- 2 guests (12+)
- Best for
- Couples wanting vineyard views and a bathing ritual
- Japanese stone bath
- Rain shower and double vanities
- Heated floors
- Tom Dixon amenities
Vineyard
The best-selling room for good reason. Ground-floor access to the pool deck, same material quality as every other category, and the vineyard aspect at a friendlier price point.
- Size
- 38 sqm plus 6 sqm terrace
- View
- Ground-floor vineyard and pool deck views
- Sleeps
- 2 guests (12+)
- Best for
- Guests who want vineyard views at the best rate
- Double rain shower
- Heated floors
- Direct pool deck access
- Tom Dixon amenities
Terrace with Bath
The larger terrace compensates for the lack of vineyard views, and the Japanese stone bath keeps the bathing ritual intact. Sunrise aspect is a quiet perk.
- Size
- 38 sqm plus 12 sqm terrace
- View
- East-facing rural landscape (no vineyard view)
- Sleeps
- 2 guests (12+)
- Best for
- Guests who prioritise a larger terrace and bath over the vineyard outlook
- Japanese stone bath
- Larger 12 sqm terrace
- Sunrise aspect
- Heated floors
Terrace
The lead-in category still delivers the full Jackalope material quality: custom Zuster furniture, heated floors, and the same generous inclusions as every other room.
- Size
- 38 sqm plus 12 sqm terrace
- View
- East-facing rural landscape (no vineyard view)
- Sleeps
- 2 guests (12+)
- Best for
- Entry-level stays where the hotel experience matters more than the room view
- Double rain shower
- Larger 12 sqm terrace
- Heated floors
- Same inclusions as all rooms
Eat and Drink
Dining
The restaurants, bars, and rituals that shape how the hotel feels after the room itself.
Start here
Doot Doot Doot
The hotel's flagship fine-dining restaurant serving a seasonal, customisable multi-course tasting menu curated by Group Executive Chef Michael Wickham. Local and kitchen garden produce is central to every dish.
- Go here for
- The 10,000-globe chandelier ceiling is one of the most photographed restaurant interiors in Australia
- Expect
- Dark, dramatic, and immersive, with the chandelier casting a golden glow across the room
- Book ahead
- Book well ahead for weekends. Open nightly from 6pm for hotel guests and visitors. Lair suite guests receive a guaranteed reservation.
For cocktails
Flaggerdoot
A haute cocktail bar in the restored 1876 McCormick House, mixing garden-inspired originals with house-made infusions and experimental distillation. The electric blue pool table, herringbone floors, and agate-faced busts create a gallery-bar hybrid.
- Go here for
- Garden-to-glass cocktail programme with house-made infusions
- Expect
- Edwardian eclectic meets neon-lit alchemy lab, with open fires and art installations
- Go when
- Walk-ins welcome. Mon-Fri from 5pm, weekends from 2pm.
Then try
Rare Hare Wine and Food Store
A relaxed vineyard restaurant serving share-style modern Australian food with a wood-fired oven at its heart. The house wines are produced seasonally from the surrounding LL Vineyard.
- Go here for
- Indoor/outdoor vineyard dining with estate wines made from the surrounding vines
- Expect
- Casual, vine-wrapped, communal
- Book ahead
- Open daily from 12pm for lunch. Bookings recommended, especially weekends.
Then try
In-Room Dining
A curated menu of snacks, salads, substantial plates, and desserts with cocktails, wine, and beer. Available to hotel guests.
- Note
- Mon-Fri 1pm-10pm, weekends 12pm-10pm.
Reset
Wellness
The parts of the property that slow the pace, restore energy, or justify spending more time on-site.
For recovery
Jackalope Spa
A secluded day spa offering bespoke facial and body treatments using Pevonia botanicals and marine extracts. Signature treatments incorporate pinot grape extract from the estate vineyard.
- Best for
- Vineyard-derived pinot grape exfoliant treatments and in-room DIY spa kits
For recovery
Infinity Pool and Heated Spa
A striking 30-metre black infinity pool with heated spa, overlooking the vineyard. Poolside sunbed service, all-day dining, and a pavilion available for treatments or private dining.
- Best for
- The black-tiled pool against green vineyard rows is the hotel's most iconic visual
For reset
Infrared Sauna
A private infrared sauna overlooking the rolling vineyard, exclusive to hotel guests.
- Best for
- Vineyard views from the sauna
What to Do
Signature Experiences
The on-property or destination moments that justify choosing this hotel over a generic luxury base.
Any evening, book ahead for weekends
Doot Doot Doot tasting menu
A multi-course seasonal journey under the 10,000-globe chandelier, paired with wines from the surrounding Peninsula. This is the single best reason to stay at Jackalope.
Late morning after breakfast
Estate wine tasting and cellar door
Complimentary for all hotel guests. Walk to the cellar door for a guided tasting of current-release LL Vineyard chardonnay and pinot noir, or upgrade to a vine walk with blending.
Weekends from 2pm, weekdays from 5pm
Sunset cocktails at Flaggerdoot
Order a garden-inspired cocktail from the marble bar, challenge someone to a game on the electric blue pool table, and watch the sun drop behind the vines through the heritage windows.
Check with concierge for schedule
Jackalope Insiders Tour
A guided walk through the hotel's alchemical narrative, mythological storytelling, and curated art collection featuring works by Emily Floyd, Rick Owens, Tracey Emin, and Random International.
Location
Getting to Jackalope Hotel
Drive from Melbourne via the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. The hotel offers complimentary Lexus transfers within 10km (20km for Lair guests) to neighbouring restaurants and wineries. A car is recommended for exploring the wider Peninsula. Valet parking available.
Melbourne CBD
75 minutes
carMelbourne Airport (Tullamarine)
90 minutes
carMornington
20 minutes
carSorrento and Portsea
40 minutes
carPt. Leo Estate Sculpture Park
cultureOver 40 large-scale sculptures across manicured grounds with ocean and vineyard views, plus a hatted restaurant
15 minutesTen Minutes by Tractor
diningAward-winning vineyard restaurant and one of the Peninsula's most celebrated fine-dining destinations
10 minutesMontalto Sculpture Trail
culture35 contemporary sculptures by Australian artists set among vineyard gardens, with an acclaimed restaurant on site
15 minutesAlba Thermal Springs
wellnessA new-generation thermal bathing destination with day spa treatments on the Peninsula
25 minutesPoint Nepean National Park
natureHistoric forts, coastal walking trails, and former quarantine station at the tip of the Peninsula
45 minutesMerricks General Store
diningA beloved local institution for fine wine, local produce, and relaxed Peninsula atmosphere
5 minutesWhat to Know
Before you book
What is the minimum guest age?
Jackalope is exclusively for guests aged 12 and over.
What is included in the room rate?
Seasonal breakfast at Doot Doot Doot, daily-refreshed minibar, infinity pool and heated spa access, infrared sauna, essential wine tasting at the cellar door, bottomless popcorn and ice cream, curated guest experiences, WiFi, and complimentary Lexus transfers within 10km.
Is the hotel open to non-guests?
Rare Hare, Flaggerdoot, and the spa are open to visitors. Doot Doot Doot is open for dinner to both guests and non-guests.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 3pm, check-out by 11am.
Editorial Verdict
The verdict on Jackalope Hotel
Why book it
- Singular design vision that commits fully to its dark, alchemical aesthetic without compromise
- Exceptional dining programme across three venues, anchored by the hatted Doot Doot Doot
- Generous all-inclusive style inclusions: breakfast, minibar, wine tasting, and guest experiences
Know the trade-offs
- The dark, theatrical interiors are polarising and will not suit guests seeking a bright, breezy coastal retreat
- No children under 12, ruling it out for family travel
- Rural location requires a car, and the 75-minute drive from Melbourne makes day trips less practical
Explore the Area
