The setting
St Jerome’s – The Hotel is basically a campground, but the catch is it’s on top of a building smack-bang in downtown Melbourne’s laneways. To get there, you enter through a shopping centre on Little Lonsdale St and take a lift with the mall-goers to the third floor – which doesn’t rank too highly in terms of excitement factor, it has to be said. But once you arrive at the astro-turfed reception area and glimpse the fun glamping set-up, it’s hard not to get on board with the concept.
The space
The rows of 21 canvas bell tents are accessorised with deck chairs, tropical plants, bunting and the like, and each comes with its own dinky little outdoor seating area. Should you wish to get to know your tent neighbours, there’s a cocktail bar and a communal table equipped with board games too. It’s all very convivial and lots of fun.
The kit
We went high roller with The Lodge, the largest tent on offer at 6 metres x 5 metres, which comes complete with a couch and extra storage space. The 4m Luxe tents and 5m Luxe Plus are more than adequate though – the Luxes are equipped with double beds, the Luxe Pluses with queens. Each guest arrives to personalised welcome signs and an esky (that’s a chilly bin, if you don’t speak Australian) stocked with beer and cider. You also get a complimentary game of 10-pin bowling at the neighbouring Strike Bowling, plus there’s a bookable sauna and guided meditation thrown in too.
Comfort factor
You may be sleeping under canvas, but this is far from roughing it. At the foot of the supremely comfy beds (made up with premium linen, throws and cushions) are wicker chests equipped with suitably hipster-friendly reading material and waffle robes with cute little tent motifs, and the little bedside tables hold eye masks and ear plugs (you’re staying outdoors in the middle of a big city, so a little noise is to be expected). Each tent has a split-system air conditioner/heater, the latter of which came in very handy during our August stay – we were nice and toasty. The shipping container bathrooms are communal, and by the time we managed to get out of bed they were certainly looking a little more used than you might expect for a severalhundred-dollar-per-night experience, but maybe it all adds to the authentic camping experience?
Food
Far better than even the most wellequipped camper could hope for. On arrival we were greeted with trays laden with pretty macarons, and instructed to head to the bar area to redeem our complimentary cocktail later that afternoon. Gelato is delivered to guests’ tents later in the evening – just text the number provided when you’re ready – and in the morning a box laden with breakfast treats, such as fruit, granola, yoghurt and a tasty scrambled egg and bean burrito, plus juice and a thermos of filter coffee or tea, arrives at your door (sorry, zip).
Worth stepping out for
There’s an in-tent dining menu if you can’t tear yourself away from the glamping experience – and it’s certainly tempting. But as you’re mere metres away from the array of excellent eating and drinking options that Melbourne’s laneways are famous for, you’d be mad not to head out for dinner and a drink or two.
Embla, just around the corner on Russell St, is a great wine bar that has seriously good food on offer – think interesting seasonal sharing plates, such as swordfish with navy beans, fennel and salted bergamot, or chickpea pancake with globe artichoke and comte cheese. The wine list is excellent and the bar is run by Kiwis to boot (Dave Verheul and Christian McCabe, formerly of Wellington’s Matterhorn, who also own The Town Mouse over in Carlton).
If you’re more in the mood for Italian, Osteria Ilaria opened a few months back, next to much-loved sister eatery Tipo 00 on Little Bourke St – nettle gnocchi with blue cheese and almonds was a recent highlight. Barwise, Goldilocks on Swanston St is a cosy rooftop option for a nightcap, and once your thermos of coffee has worn off in the morning, re-caffeinate at Brother Baba Budan on Little Bourke.
The verdict
A quirky adventure in the urban jungle.
Getting there
Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia operate regular flights from New Zealand main centres to Melbourne.
Essentials
Rates for the Luxe start at A$420 (NZ$466) a night, with the Luxe Plus starting at A$450 and the Lodge at A$490.
❚ The writer was a guest of St Jerome’s – The Hotel.