Luxury accommodation in the Mornington Peninsula

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From a boutique bolthole awash with contemporary design, to an exclusive farmhouse that was made for long summer nights spent wining and dining with friends, there’s a luxury accommodation option to suit all tastes on the Mornington.

The bucolic pocket that has it all, not only is the Mornington Peninsula home to world-leading maritime wineries, acclaimed restaurants with sweeping verdant valley views, and gorgeous stretches of coastline, but it’s also home to some of Victoria’s best hotels. Read on for details of several of the region’s most noteworthy options.

 

Don’t miss: The best places to eat & drink on Mornington Peninsula

Jackalope Hotel

No list of the Mornington’s best accommodation would be complete without mention of Jackalope. Open since April 2017, this luxurious and hyper-modern boutique hotel is arguably the one that put the peninsula on the map, much to the annoyance of in-the-know Melburnians who wanted to keep this idyllic region all to themselves.

 

The minimalist rooms and suites are dressed in moody shades of smoky grey and black, and feature custom-made furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows and private terraces, some with vineyard views. But it’s not just the accommodation that’s winning over guests: the property is also home to award-winning fine-dining restaurant Doot Doot Doot, where the food is a standout, but the decor is just as noteworthy, the ceiling an art installation covered with 10,000 light bulbs. And did we mention the infinity pool, spa, casual Rare Hare restaurant and wine bar, or the Flaggerdoot cocktail lounge?

Jackalope Mornington Peninsula
The Jackalope hype is well and truly worth it

Address: 166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North, Vic, 3926

Phone: (03) 5931 2500

Website: Jackalopehotels.com

Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill

If the premise of Jackalope’s ultra-contemporary surrounds proves a turn-off, then the Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill might just be the answer to your accommodation prayers. The property’s light-filled, classic country house character will have you feeling right at home. Rooms are doused in white, dove grey and taupe, and most have access to some sort of outdoor area, whether a shared balcony, or a ground floor terrace. The pick of the bunch at this boutique, 40-room hotel is arguably the spacious balcony suite, which has its own open fireplace – the perfect place to unwind with a glass of Lindenderry’s pinot noir and perhaps a cheese board.

 

Set amid 34 acres of gardens and vines, the boutique hotel is also home to an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a rather wonderful farm-to-fork restaurant, a cellar door, lakeside lawns to picnic in, and more.

Lancemore
Lancemore is set amongst 34 stunning acres of gardens and vines.

Address: 142 Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill, Vic, 3937

Phone: (03) 5989 2933

Website: lancemore.com.au/lindenderry-red-hill

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Polperro Farmhouse

Secreted away on the grounds of the boutique winery’s estate, the Polperro Farmhouse might just be the perfect little bolthole. Renovated with guidance from what is perhaps Melbourne’s preeminent interior design firm, Hecker Guthrie, this quaint, three-bedroom cottage is a masterclass in 1950s design fused with modern minimalism.

 

Inside, guests will find an open fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen, a minibar replete with Polperro wines and cocktails, Smeg appliances, a sizable bathtub, and a bounty of natural light pouring in. But it’s outside where this property really shines. Dine al fresco, under the sun-dappled shade of trees, overlooking a sea of vines; marvel at the stars while sitting around the firepit in Adirondack chairs; soak up the last of the day’s rays on the patio; and go to town with the farmhouse’s extensive outdoor kitchen, which houses a top-of-the-line barbecue, a spit roaster, and a vast island counter for prepping and plating.

 

The estate also has four villas, which each sleep two.

Find the farmhouse secreted away on the boutique winery’s estate.

Address: 64 Donaldsons Rd, Red Hill, Vic, 3937

Phone: (03) 5989 2471

Website: polperrowines.com.au/farmhouse-accommodation/

 

Don’t miss: Top things to do on Mornington Peninsula

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RACV Cape Schanck Resort

When you think of no-holds-barred luxury accommodation, RACV’s resorts might not be the first place your mind wanders. But this five-star property on the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula is a bit special. Sure, it’s not quite as boutique as the other options on this list, but what the guest rooms lack in individualism, the resort makes up for with facilities: a championship 18-hole par-70 golf course, an acclaimed restaurant with a modern Australian menu, two further more casual eateries, a respectably sized fitness centre, a luxury day spa, a games room and playground for kids, and three floodlit tennis courts.

 

Located amid sand dunes and dense coastal scrubland, the resort also boasts a number of great walks right on its doorstep, leading guests to some rugged windswept landscapes. From a distance you can also admire the sculptural architecture of the RACV Cape Schanck, a landmark local building that looks different from every angle.

 

Address: Trent Jones Drive, Cape Schanck, Vic, 3939

Phone: (03) 5950 8000

Website: racv.com.au/racv-resorts/Cape-Schanck

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Chloe Cann
Chloe Cann is an award-winning freelance travel and food writer, born in England, based in Melbourne and Roman by adoption. Since honing her skills at City St George's, University of London with a master's degree in journalism, she's been writing almost exclusively about travel for more than a decade, and has worked in-house at newspapers and travel magazines in London, Phnom Penh, Sydney and Melbourne. Through a mixture of work and pleasure, she's been fortunate enough to visit 80 countries to date, though there are many more that she is itching to reach. While the strength of a region's food scene tends to dictate the location of her next trip, she can be equally swayed by the promise of interesting landscapes and offbeat experiences. And with a small person now in tow, travel looks a little different these days, but it remains at the front of her mind.
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Your guide to the ultimate Melbourne weekend

Credit: Visit Victoria

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Here’s how to turn your next work trip into a Melbourne city break, with market lunches, rooftop bars and gallery visits fitting neatly around the odd meeting or two.

    A long weekend in Melbourne is an easy sell. Begin with a coffee prepared with the precision of a laboratory experiment, before disappearing down the rabbit warren of graffiti-covered laneways. Explore the cutting edge of Australian art and culture in museums, and spend sunsets with a rooftop cocktail in hand.

    Follow our guide to the perfect weekend stay in Victoria’s capital.

    Where to stay

    lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne

    Modern living space at lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne, the perfect base for the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Explore Melbourne from the perfect base.

    Make the short stroll from Melbourne Central Station towards Queen Victoria Market to arrive at lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne, a 90-room hotel whose communal spaces are a siren call for remote workers and travellers alike. Parked in the free tram zone and right beside Queen Victoria Market, it’s as central as it gets.

    Designed by DKO Architects inside a heritage 1975 building, lyf’s interiors lean into warm Japandi-like styling, colourful art and flexible shared spaces. Whether you’re settling into the Collab workspaces, cooking in the Bond communal kitchen, squeezing in a workout at Burn gym or catching up on laundry at Wash & Hang, the hotel is built around sharing and spontaneous connections.

    Where to eat

    Bonnibel

    A juicy burger and crispy fries from Bonnibel, a delicious stop on the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Power your day with Melbourne’s best flavours.

    First stop is lyf on Elizabeth Melbourne’s neighbourhood kitchen and bar, Bonnibel. Like any Melbourne spot worth its truffle salt, Bonnibel serves a cracking coffee alongside an all-day menu that runs the gamut from barbecue beef brisket benedict with jalapeño salsa and gochujang hollandaise to coconut chia nourish bowls.

    Bond

    Contemporary dining at Bond's Kitchen.
    Take your Queen Vic finds from market to plate.

    If the freshly baked sourdough, local produce and fresh fruit on offer at Queen Victoria Market have your fingers twitching towards your wallet, no need to hold back. Pick up, then head back to lyf’s Bond communal kitchen to cook it yourself. Fully equipped, it’s designed for guests to prepare meals together – and if you forget that dukkah for your avo and eggs, Queen Vic is only next door.

    Soi38

    Stretch your legs and make your way to Soi 38, one of Melbourne’s favourite Thai lunch spots. Specialising in street food-style dishes, the sprawling menu can feel as busy as a Bangkok market. Just know that the boat noodles are a must, alongside the Crying Tiger with marinated Black Angus brisket, crispy pork belly with house dipping sauce and a glass of sweet pink nom yen.

    Shanghai Street

    Shanghai Street Melbourne
    Stop by for Melbourne’s famous dumplings. (Credit: Alpha)

    At Shanghai Street, order the xiao long bao as soon as you sit down at this cult restaurant; the delicate-skinned soup dumplings remain its signature. Don’t overlook the crispy-bottomed pan-fried pork buns or the homemade dumplings, served boiled, pan-fried or coated in chilli oil.

    Where to drink

    Fleet Rooftop Bar

    Sitting 22 floors above Flinders Street, Fleet Rooftop Bar pairs Southbank views with one of the city’s best rum selections. Thanks to its retractable roof and glass panelling, the terrace works in Melbourne’s famously unpredictable weather. If rum isn’t your thing, flag down the martini trolley for a classic, oyster shell or olive leaf martini, then settle in with snacks like torched salmon caviar.

    Goldilocks Rooftop Bar

    Drinks at Goldilocks Rooftop Bar, a must-visit for the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Raise a glass above the city.

    Hidden above the Denyers Building, Goldilocks Rooftop Bar is one of the CBD’s favourite spots for bottomless brunch. Expect shared plates of spinach and mushroom bao, fried chicken ribs and xiao long bao alongside free-flowing mimosas, peach and yuzu spritzes, Aperol spritzes and Bloody Shiraz jugs. It’s just right for a long afternoon in the city.

    Fifty-five Bar

    Swap rooftop views for basement vibes at Fifty-five Bar, where dim lighting, rotating craft beers and DJs create one of the CBD’s cosiest late-night hangouts. The cocktail list is just as fun, with drinks like the Silk Road Sour, made with pomegranate molasses and sumac, and frozen white peach cosmos.

    Things to do

    Free City Circle Tram

    The City Circle Tram passing along Swanston Street, an iconic sight on the ultimate Melbourne weekender.
    Travel between landmarks for free. (Credit: Visit Vic)

    Say hello to every Melbourne traveller’s new best friend, the free City Circle Tram. This magic carpet of Melbourne transport loops around the CBD and Docklands, getting you from landmark to landmark without dropping a cent.

    Melbourne Central

    Coop's Shot Tower at Melbourne Central
    Shop until your drop. (Credit: Visit Vic)

    Carve a chunk of time out of your schedule because all work and no play makes anyone a dull Melburnian. Instead, visit Melbourne Central to crack on with vintage shopping, duck into colourful laneways, wander through the grand 19th-century arcades and get to know its many museums. The architecture and people-watching aren’t too shabby either, whether you’re watching the crowds spill out of Flinders Street Station or gathering in Federation Square.

    National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) – new Cartier exhibition

    Striking artwork inside the National Gallery of Victoria's stunning red gallery.
    Explore one of Melbourne’s must-see exhibitions. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

    The jewel in Melbourne’s art scene, the NGV has welcomed one of its most glittering exhibitions yet: Cartier. Created by London’s V&A, it showcases jewels worn by some of history’s greatest divas, from Elizabeth Taylor and Rihanna to Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Windsor. Sketchbooks, photographs and original designs from the Cartier archives reveal the skill behind the sparkle.

    Explore Melbourne’s arty laneways

    Colourful street art lining Hosier Lane, a vibrant highlight of the ultimate Melbourne weekend.
    Follow the city’s vibrant street art trail. (Credit: Visit Victoria)

    Start at Hosier Lane, the undisputed heart of Melbourne’s laneway art scene, where fresh murals appear thick and fast. From there, wander over to the music-themed AC/DC Lane, then duck into Union Lane, where independent artists constantly layer new works over old.

    Start planning your ultimate Melbourne weekender at discoverasr.com.

    Luxury Accommodation In The Mornington Peninsula