The Highlanders started poorly, being down by 14 points in nearly as many minutes, and they looked less likely the further the game went on.
They had chances in the last 15 minutes of the first half but when they failed to score, the writing was on the wall.
If anything, the second half was worse than the first as the Highlanders ran out of gas, dropped the ball too often and failed to string together much in the way of continuity.
The Brumbies had plenty to play for and it showed.
The Highlanders had nothing to play for and, at times, that was as clear as a cloudless day in Death Valley.
Missing more than 40 tackles did not help.
The Highlanders tried to get things going but something would always go wrong: a dropped ball, an accidental offside, a poor throw-in.
At times it was not pretty to watch.
The Brumbies are not a great attacking side - it took them all of the 80 minutes to score the bonus-point try - but they are efficient at what they do and that was more than good enough on the night.
Poor defence around the ruck gave the Brumbies far too many easy metres on attack in the first half.
The home side made the advantage line in a canter and that led to the Highlanders finding reverse gear for much of the opening period.
The Highlanders' woes started at set piece, losing three line-outs in the opening 10 minutes.
The Brumbies made the most of having possession given to them and scored the first try after 12 minutes.
Blindside flanker Rocky Elsom took the ball from a line-out 10m out and barrelled his way over the line.
Matt Giteau added the extras.
Big Brumbies prop Salesi Ma'afu got the second five-pointer less than five minutes later, barging over from 2m after the Brumbies had made some easy metres around the ruck.
The Highlanders finally got some ball midway through the first half and lock Josh Bekhuis was pushed out in the corner, just missing a try.
They eventually got on the scoreboard with the final play of the half, as fullback Israel Dagg knocked over an easy penalty.
The Brumbies made sure of the game early in the second half when halfback Josh Valentine, who would be up there in the ranks of annoying Australians, went over.
The Highlanders defended courageously in the final quarter of the match but first five-eighth Matt Toomua crossed with time almost up.
Bekhuis tried hard for the Highlanders, as did Alando Soakai, but it was one to forget for the visiting side.
Elsom played well for the Brumbies, while the returning George Smith looked like he had never been away.
