The secret is out: Welcome to The Keep, Tasmania's luxe off-grid getaway

If you are looking for time and space in which to relax and switch off from the world; to disconnect from technology, and bathe in the pure Tasmanian wilderness – completely off-grid – The Keep in our Island State is for you.

The Keep’s luxury accommodation opened to a solely Tasmanian audience during COVID border closures to the rest of Australia.

However, it became the state’s not-so-hidden secret, fast booking out every weekend. Now, this little gem in the middle of nowhere is open to the rest of Australia, subject to COVID restrictions.

Perched 650 metres high, on top of the Blue Tier in Goulds Country in north-east Tasmania, on a winding, narrow gravel road, The Keep stands surrounded by 350 million-year-old granite boulders, with 360-degree views of pure wilderness for miles and miles.

“It’s an oasis where you are focused on yourself, on your partner, on nature,” owner and designer Andrew Wallis says.

He and his wife Anne-Maree Coombe stumbled upon the Scottish-style medieval tower on Facebook. While neither was looking to buy a one-bedroom guest house in a secluded, tiny, timber ghost town between Launceston and St Helens, something about The Keep meant they couldn’t walk away.

“We went up there – it was this stunning, stunning day – and the view was just incredible,” Wallis says.

“We fell in love with the place, [not knowing] that we would have all these things to do to actually ever turn it into accommodation.”

The Keep was completely unsuitable for the high winds and full of “funny little rooms” with walls dividing the already tight interiors. The couple needed to transform the accommodation into a space that was welcoming and took advantage of the views while retaining the structural integrity with extensive wall bracing.

Inside, they had a compact eight square metres to work with on each of the three floors, opening the layout to maximise the views.

Inspired by the vast and wild landscape, the stark interiors are a celebration of Tasmanian “pared back luxury” design. Guests remain cosy through blankets, heating and a therapy pod – a grown-up beanbag that envelops its sitter.

Wallis and Coombe painted the walls white, re-varnished the Tasmanian oak floorboards and added blinds that are hidden when closed to maximise the views.

The use of that Tasmanian oak, plus blackwood, myrtle, sassafras and Huon pine, echo the forest beyond.

The furnishings include a collection of handcrafted Tasmanian furniture from Simon Ancher Studio, heritage fleece textiles by Rebecca Kissling and a commissioned painting by Hobart artist Effie Pryer – a reimagining of the Garden of Eden, to reflect a small parcel of original myrtle rainforest outside.

Any spot is perfect for soaking in the views, including the outdoor hand-crafted 300-kilogram granite bath, from which you can watch the thunderstorms roll in or the clouds racing across a beautiful starry sky.

After 20 kilometres of driving on a gravel road, The Keep invites you to ground yourself. You can hire a chef or masseuse to come to you, meaning you never need to leave. It’s a place to retreat and find your calm.

While in Goulds Country …

Private helicopter tour

For something unique, book a private helicopter to explore the east coast of Tasmania with a picnic on a privately owned island or enjoy a sparkling wine and lunch at local winery Clover Hill.

Enjoy a tipple

A 45-minute drive south-east of The Keep will land you in the picturesque town of St Helens. Pop into Priory Ridge Wines to try some local tipples and pick up a bottle to enjoy by the fire.

Float away

Located on Lake Derby, the Floating Sauna is worth making the trip west. Echoing Finnish tradition, jump in the ice-cold lake after a session in the hot room – if you’re brave enough.

Explore the great outdoors

The wilderness surrounding the guest house is a playground for mountain biking and hiking. The Keep has several marked tracks to explore during your stay, and Derby is a hub for bikes.