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Some of Australia’s most extraordinary stays are hiding in the most unexpected places – and I may have just found one of the best. Tucked away on the ‘edge of the world’ is Tunnel Tasmania, a luxury off-grid escape set on six acres of waterfront land on Bruny Island. It’s perhaps the most architecturally beautiful property I’ve ever come across, featuring everything from dancing rainbow lights and a cosy outdoor firepit to sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows – but it’s the ocean-facing bath I still can’t get over.
Tunnel is the first and only Southern Hemisphere property in Danish design label Vipp’s guesthouse portfolio, which also includes a chimney house in Copenhagen, a farmhouse in Denmark and a mountain lodge in Austria. The minimalist design gods collaborated with Hobart-based studio Room 11 to bring the striking brutalist project to life over three years, officially welcoming guests in March 2025.
On entering, my eyes are immediately drawn to the glistening waters of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel glistening through the glass at the end of the 30-metre-long ‘tunnel-like’ concrete structure. An expansive floor-to-ceiling window frames the view, while a sunken lounge invites me to relax and take it all in. It’s perhaps one of the only cases where ‘tunnel vision’ is a good thing.
The views became even better once I stepped onto the floating terrace, stretching 280 degrees across the ocean. From the deck, I strolled toward the waterfront, passing a cute outdoor firepit and a massive bath that stopped me in my tracks (confession: I never actually made it to the water).
Here, I whiled away hours over the weekend, soaking in the soundtrack of Bruny Island: the call of native birds, towering gums swaying in the coastal breeze, wallabies rustling in the bush and the waves crashing against the rocks. It was absolute bliss, and a beautiful reminder of how rejuvenating time spent in nature is for the soul.
In many ways, the outdoor bath captures exactly what the designers were trying to achieve with Tunnel as an off-grid escape – a place to switch off in nature, with front-row views of Tasmania’s wild terrain and coastline, and not another soul in sight.
That same sense of calm and quiet luxury flows through the rest of the house. Inside, an atrium yard separates the main living area from the master bed and bathroom, while a detached studio with a hidden mezzanine bed offers an extra pocket of seclusion. Of course, both spaces are fitted with Vipp’s signature furnishings, alongside equally high-end appliances and products from Nespresso, Dyson, Miele, Le Labo, Tekla and Baina.
The bath might have been my most memorable feature, but it’s far from the only design detail that stopped me in my tracks. Another personal favourite is the kaleidoscopic lighting, which dances across the polished concrete surfaces in vivid hues of yellow, orange, pink and purple. The colours shift with the movement of the sun, meaning no two hours are ever the same.
So, if you’re looking for a light at the end of the tunnel, this is it. Tunnel Tasmania is perfect for a solo nature escape, a romantic couple’s getaway or a beautiful weekend with your besties – you can find out more here.