Royal Mail Hotel

Located at the southern tip of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park, bucolic pastoral scenes sway to the gentle sounds of rustling gums, with roaming kangaroos, wallabies, and even the odd emu, popping by to say g’day.

The mountain outside your door, the full moon rising, the unassuming stone quarters that have been done up into a luxe pad with everything you could possibly dream of having, and those amazing sunset colors—welcome to the charming Royal Mail Hotel.

The cuisine takes cues from the micro-seasons of Dunkeld. A bountiful Kitchen Garden and rolling green pastures form our larder, where chefs roll up their sleeves each morning to gather the day’s ingredients for both Parker St Project and Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel.

They’re proud to have amassed the largest private collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy in the Southern Hemisphere — though they also enjoy a cold beer after a long day of exploring.

Deluxe Mountain View Rooms
Deluxe Mountain View Rooms offer the best views of the majestic Gariwerd (Grampians National Park) on the property. Recently refurbished, luxuriously appointed and architecturally designed to capture the beauty of the natural setting, warm tones and timber finishes enhance the contemporary design. Each room features a king bed facing the mountains, a spacious bathroom, complete with walk in shower, heated floors and beautiful bathroom amenities. (sleeps 2)

Mountain View Rooms
These rooms offer views towards the Gariwerd National Park. Each room features a king bed, private balcony, gourmet minibar and spacious bathroom, complete with walk in shower, heated floors and beautiful bathroom amenities. (sleeps 2)

One and Two Bedroom Apartments
One and two bedroom Apartments offer sweeping views of Gariwerd from the upstairs balcony. The apartments are set on site the main hotel complex, within landscaped Australian gardens. The double story apartments feature a separate dining and lounge area with bedrooms upstairs. Wifi included.

Courtyard Rooms
This is an entry level, original style room, set within the hotel courtyard with limited views of Gariwerd from your private balcony. Courtyard rooms are located stones-throw from the Parker St Project courtyard, the Royal Mail Hotel swimming pool and Wickens restaurant and are the perfect choice for explorers looking for a comfortable room to rest their head at the end of the day. (sleeps 2)

Deluxe Cottages
Each standalone Deluxe Mount Sturgeon One Bedroom Cottage has been completely refurbished as of July 2022 to modern standards whilst maintaining the charm of the 1850s designed and built bluestone worker’s cottages. Each private cottage has stunning views of Mount Sturgeon (Wurgarri) and the surrounding grounds. The new room design is a spacious open plan living and bedroom layout. Elegant furnishings emphasize the raw beauty of the original bluestone walls making the wood fireplace central to the room experience. Your cottage also features a private patio is enclosed by nature, a generous bathroom with a large walk-in rain shower. Additional room features include a Bluetooth speaker, free Wi-Fi, a gourmet minibar, and a bespoke sommeliers bar for the ultimate in-room wine experience. (sleeps 2)

Mount Sturgeon Cottages
One or Two Bedroom Mount Sturgeon Cottages offer a unique stay experience with country cottage charm. Each cottage features a king bed and bathroom, complete with walk in shower, heated floors and beautiful bathroom amenities. Please note the cottages are interconnecting. These cottages do not have a television and very limited mobile reception. WiFi is included.

Wine Tasting
Guests of the Royal Mail Hotel are invited to join our sommeliers on a comparative wine tasting held in our award-winning wine cellar, home to an impressive 30,000 bottles. The cellar has a range of local and international wines and is the largest private collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy in the Southern Hemisphere.

Garden Tour
Conducted by the Royal Mail Hotel’s chefs and gardeners, the tour demonstrates the organic practices employed by the hotel and how the daily harvest influences the menus at both Parker St Project and Wickens. The produce is grown organically, without the use of herbicides and pesticides. This method of farming means our produce is flavourful and just how nature intended it to be.

Conservation
Learn about our captive breeding program and environmental initiatives. Get acquainted with the Biodiversity Reserve locals, joining the conservation team to encounter native and endemic species, including Eastern Quolls, Fat Tailed Dunnarts, and more.

Wellness
The brand-new outdoor wellness suite offers exclusive access for hotel guests to a spacious magnesium-salt hot tub, a refreshing cool-down shower, and a Finnish-inspired cedar wood sauna, perfect for soothing sore muscles after long days in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. Between dips and steams, guests can take in uninterrupted views of Mount Sturgeon (Wurrgari) in the cosy indoor lounge space, sipping tea made with ingredients plucked straight from the kitchen garden, while watching emus, kangaroos and wallabies wandering past.

Check out Town
A scenic three-hour drive west from Melbourne, as you approach Dunkeld it’s the first sighting of the searing peaks of Mt Sturgeon (Wurgarri) and Mt Abrupt (MudDadjug) puncturing through the surrounding fertile soils, commands your immediate attention and awe. The main street of Dunkeld (Parker Street) is charming, with quaint shopfronts like the the Dunkeld Providore – the place to stock up on local produce and deli treats. Other retail stores in the main street include a pharmacy, bookshop (open on weekends), giftware and galleries.

Hiking the Grampians
Starting in the north, at Mura Mura (Mount Zero), near Horsham, the Grampians Peaks Trail takes hikers over the majestic Gariwerd peaks. The final ascent is Wurgarri (Mount Sturgeon), before completing the hike at the Dunkeld trailhead, just a block from Royal Mail Hotel. The hike takes 13 days and 12 nights, with 12 unique overnight campsites situated along the way. For the times when hotel accommodation and beautiful dining options are needed, day walks on the Trail. with transfers to and from the hotel can be arranged.

Self-Guided Walks
Wander our gentle and private paths on a self-guided nature walk. The exclusive guest walking trails lead you alongside rivers to historic red gums, blooming wildflowers and local wildlife

Woodlands Wander (Access via Conservation Team)
Located on the Royal Mail Hotel’s sister property, Mount Sturgeon Station, this walk offers a step back in time. The 45-minute loop leads you to a heritage-listed River Red Gum, estimated to be 418 years old. At one stage, this tree has fallen over and continued to grow with the main branches now forming the canopy. It is an amazing piece of history, among other incredible trees, views of Wurgarri and native wildlife. The walk starts at a signed gateway along the Mount Sturgeon Station driveway.
*We are proud to announce our parent conservation team have completed a new 95 hectare (238 acre) safe haven encapsulating the Woodlands Wander walk and to complement the existing Eastern Quoll captive breeding facility. This work was completed thanks to the Australian Government’s Environment Restoration Fund, via a Threatened Species Strategy Action Plan grant.

River Walk
Starting along Salt Creek, near the Royal Mail Hotel, this grassy track then hugs the Wannon River below Wurgarri (Mt Sturgeon). It is an enjoyable walk where you can spot wallabies, kangaroos, emus and bird life. Finishing at Mount Sturgeon Station, walkers can return via the same track, or continue along the Peregrine Trial.