This brutalist off-grid tunnel is Bruny Island’s most exclusive stay

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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Tasmania’s stunning Bruny Island is getting a new luxury offering from a Danish design brand. 

Whether you’re going for a day trip, or planning to stay a little longer, there are plenty of reasons to visit Bruny Island. Now, the sustainably designed Vipp Tunnel guesthouse offers one more. 

Danish design brand, Vipp, has worked with Hobart-based studio, Room1, to bring its particular style to the southern hemisphere for the first time. 

View of Vipp Tunnel from the outside looking through the kitchen to the lounge and out to the ocean
The luxe new property on Bruny Island is the brainchild of Danish design brand, Vipp, and Hobart-based studio, Room1. (Image: Supplied)

Three years in the making, the cantilevered Vipp Tunnel makes a striking vision over a sloping hill. Room 11 set out to build a sculptural, brutalist structure dropped into the bushlands, designed to feel like it’s balancing on the edge between solid ground and open air.  

“On Bruny Island, we have created understandable forms that do not mimic context, rather they create an intelligible form from which we can comprehend the nature of place," explained Thomas Bailey, Architect AIA, Director Room11. 

The guesthouse

The concrete off-grid tunnel sits on Bruny Island in the bush
The concrete guesthouse has been cleverly designed to bring the outside views in through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. (Image: Supplied)

The result is a 160-square-metre tunnel stretching 30 metres, with wall-to-wall glass and recessed steel doors to allow unobstructed views out to the Tasmanian sea and mountains. Inside, the master bed and bath are separated by an atrium yard, to further create the sense of being on the edge of the world. Central skylights have had chromatic glazing added to mimic the colours of the Aurora Australis across the guesthouse interior. 

The sunken lounge area with views of the ocean
Stay in complete seclusion. (Image: Supplied)

A separate 35-square-metre concrete cube, dubbed The Studio, contains a desk and hidden mezzanine double bed. While outside, a series of sculptures by renowned Danish artist Lin Utzon complete the artistic stay. 

Vipp supplied the guesthouse with its interiors and furnishings. Including an all-aluminium V3 kitchen, swivel chairs upholstered in Australian sheep skin and a bespoke sunken lounge.  

Vipp interior products and furnishings feature throughout the property, like the swivel chair pictured here. (Supplied)

“Our portfolio of guesthouses is about elevating the product experience and creating a doorway into our design universe. By working with different architectural typologies and vernacular we can craft distinct design experiences," said Kasper Egelund, CEO and third-generation Vipp owner.  

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Sustainability

The dining area of Vipp Tunnel on Bruny Island
The concrete panel design of the off-grid property provides thermal insulation. (Image: Supplied)

Another fascinating aspect of Vipp Tunnel is how entirely off-grid it is. 

“The entire western façade is derived from the geometry of the solar array. An unequivocal statement of prioritising green energy production in contemporary construction. As far as we are aware, this is the first building to feature an entire façade created by solar technology, making the most of the location’s latitude," said Bailey.  

A wallaby on Bruny Island
Sustainable design has been woven into every facet of the property.

Before building, every tree on site was surveyed to avoid damage. The concrete panel design provides thermal insulation to keep the inside temperature regulated, year-round. The property runs only on run-off rainwater and self-sufficient energy.  

The details

A man stand-up paddleboards by Vipp Tunnel on Bruny Island
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Bruny Island. (Image: Supplied)

Get to Bruny Island with a 20-minute ferry ride from Hobart, then drive 10 minutes to Vipp Tunnel. Prices start from $970 per night, based on two adult guests.  

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for Australian Traveller and International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @probably_kassia.
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What to expect from the Tamar Valley’s newly renovated cellar door

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
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    Overlooking the winding Tamar River, the Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door is where two of Tasmania’s most acclaimed wine labels come together. Sip award-winning cool-climate wines and world-class sparkling while soaking up the vineyard views in one spectacular setting.

    The fire crackles softly as you settle into a comfortable armchair, a glass of Tamar Ridge Reserve Pinot Noir warming your hands. Outside, rows of vines stretch across the Tamar Valley, their gentle contours framed by rolling hills and ever-changing skies. Or perhaps it’s a sunlit afternoon, and you’re on the terrace with a flute of PIRIE Vintage sparkling in hand, watching the valley shimmer beneath you as each crisp sip captures the freshness of Tasmania. At the Tamar Ridge and PIRIE Cellar Door, the setting in one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate wine regions is every bit as special as the wines.

    The two brands now share a beautifully refurbished cellar door, giving visitors the opportunity to sample both still and sparkling wines from the Brown Family Wine Group’s luxury portfolio in a single stop. Alongside the shared tasting space, they’ve also introduced a range of premium experiences tailored to each brand.

    Tamar Ridge’s story began in 1994, when vines were planted at Kayena in Tasmania’s Upper Tamar Valley. Guided by renowned viticulturist Dr Richard Smart – the “Flying Vine Doctor” – the vineyard quickly gained a reputation for quality, with a new winery established in 1998 and the Tamar Ridge label born.

    sitting on the lawn of Tamar Ridge & Pirie Cellar Door
    Sit outside to soak in the sun as you enjoy Tamar Valley views. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    Today, New Zealand-born head winemaker Tom Wallace leads the cellar, brings his passion for cool-climate winemaking to help shape Tamar Ridge’s reputation for elegant, expressive wines.

    Founded by Dr Andrew Pirie in 1995, PIRIE helped prove the island’s potential for world-class cool-climate sparkling.

    Crafted in the traditional method from hand-picked Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grown in the Valley, PIRIE Tasmania sparkling wines are celebrated for their fine beads, depth and elegance. With a collection of trophies, gold medals and top honours behind them, these rare vintages showcase the very best of the state’s sparkling wine.

    Brown Brothers – now known as the Brown Family Wine Group – acquired Tamar Ridge, PIRIE and Devil’s Corner on the island’s east coast in 2010, extending the legacy of a family wine company founded in 1889 at Milawa in Victoria’s King Valley. The company has continued its pursuit of exceptional cool-climate vineyards, recognising Tasmania’s unique potential in a changing climate.

    Location

    roaring fireplace inside Tamar Ridge & Pirie Cellar Door tamar valley
    Get cosy by the roaring fireplace. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door is set on the west bank of the Tamar River, just 20 minutes north of Launceston and around two and a half hours’ drive from Hobart near the riverside village of Rosevears in northern Tasmania. Stretching more than 60 kilometres along the river, from the mouth near Launceston north towards Bass Strait, the Valley is a vast patchwork of vineyards, orchards, farmland and historic townships.

    Style & decor

    interior of Tamar Ridge & Pirie Cellar Door tamar valley
    Come for a regular tasting, or book an experience. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase panoramic views, while outdoor decks make the most of the surrounding scenery. Inside, the refined contemporary interiors strike a balance between modern luxury and the natural surrounds, with a double-sided fireplace to linger by. A Tamar River view creates a warm focal point. Natural wood accents add a sense of place, including a handcrafted 12-seat Tasmanian oak table that anchors the space with understated elegance.

    Wine experiences

    The cellar door’s curated wine experiences pair award-winning wines with local produce and the stories behind them. For those who prefer a leisurely visit without a set itinerary, the cellar door also offers cheese platters and small plates, best enjoyed with a glass in hand while taking in those Tamar River views.

    Come for a taste, stay for an experience.

    PIRIE & Oyster Experience

    PIRIE & Oyster Experience
    Taste the best of PIRIE matched with oysters. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    A true taste of Tasmania comes to life in the PIRIE & Oyster Experience, created in partnership with Tasmanian Oyster Co. Exploring the connection between merroir and terroir – the influence of the sea and soil on flavour – this guided tasting pairs three premium oysters from different Tasmanian growing regions with three expressions of PIRIE sparkling wine: the NV, 2021 Vintage and Blanc de Blanc.

    As each oyster and wine pairing is revealed, guests discover how Tasmania’s unique landscapes shape flavour, from the mineral freshness of the ocean to the elegance and precision of cool-climate sparkling wine.

    Pinot Noir Blending Experience

    Pinot Noir Blending Experience
    Try your own hand at mixing. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    For those who want to step behind the winemaker’s bench, the Pinot Noir Blending Experience offers a hands-on journey into the art of creating great wine.

    Guests taste through three to four individual Pinot Noir clones from the previous vintage, each revealing its own personality through aroma, structure and character. Guided by the cellar door team, visitors explore how these individual components come together to create balance and complexity – before attempting their own blend.

    Will you recreate the house style, or create something entirely original? This immersive experience offers a fascinating insight into the craft, creativity and precision that goes into every bottle.

    Supreme Indulgence

    Tamar Ridge & PIRIE Cellar Door
    Settle in for true indulgene. (Credit: Natasha Mulhall)

    The most elevated experience at the cellar door, the Supreme Indulgence (PIRIE Sparkling with Caviar tasting) is a celebration of luxury, refinement and Tasmania’s exceptional produce.

    Priced at $99 per person, the tasting pairs PIRIE Tasmania’s most distinguished sparkling wines with carefully selected sturgeon caviar, chosen to enhance the elegance, texture and finesse of each cuvée. Hosted by an expert member of the team, the experience unfolds as a thoughtful exploration of fine bubbles, delicate flavours and the craftsmanship behind every bottle.

    Start planning at tamarridge.com.au and pirietasmania.com.au.