A Hidden Gem in the Flowerdale Valley
About Lobster Ponds Haven
Tucked into the hills of northwest Tasmania, Lobster Ponds Haven is the only place in Australia where you can see Giant Tasmanian Freshwater Lobsters up close
The late Don Bramich, a local farmer, started building the Ponds in 1998, around the time they were listed as endangered. The Ponds were officially opened in 2003 by labour MP Brian Green.
Fourteen years later, in 2017, the lobsters bred here - a world first for this species in captivity.
After Don passed away in 2011, volunteers stepped in to keep his vision alive.
Over the years, the Ponds have grown, aviaries have been built for critically endangered parrots, and the gardens have filled with rare Tasmanian plants.
What you'll find here
Giant Lobsters
The stars of the show. These creatures can live for decades and grow to incredible sizes. Walk the pond circuit at your own pace, spot them hiding under logs, and learn why they're worth protecting.
Critically Endangered Birds
Our aviaries house Swift Parrots and Orange-bellied Parrots - some of Australia's most threatened species. You'll also see a variety of native finches and other Australian birds sharing the space. Watch them feed on fresh eucalyptus branches, see their colours up close and understand what they’re up against.
Cafe and Gift Shop
Homemade scones with local jam and cream, toasted sandwiches, soup, and proper coffee. Plus, an incredible selection of gifts from local artists. The view over the Flowerdale Valley doesn't hurt either.
Open Saturday and Sunday in autumn and winter, Thursday to Sunday in summer and spring.
Run Entirely By Volunteers
Every person you meet here volunteers their time.
Kevin Hyland looks after the conservation work - feeding parrots, maintaining the water systems, giving tours. The cafe runs on locals who bake the scones and make the soup. High school students help with maintenance and planting.
We work with Wildcare Tasmania and Parks and Wildlife on our conservation programs, but at the end of the day, we're just a group of people looking after something worth keeping.
The Conservation Work
The Giant Freshwater Lobsters here breed naturally - so far, this is the only place in captivity where this has happened.
We're part of the recovery effort for Orange-bellied Parrots and helping with breeding programs for Swift Parrots.
We host school groups and educate thousands of visitors each year about species most people will never see in the wild.
It's real work and you get to see it all firsthand.
Lobsters Ponds lives on a working farm
The Ponds sit on a working dairy farm that's been thoughtfully managed for generations.
The farm planted 50 acres of blue gums across the valley years ago as part of caring for the land - you can see them from the cafe windows. Now Kevin uses those same trees to cut fresh eucalyptus branches for the parrots - they absolutely love them.
Red Breast Nursery next door is where all the rare Tasmanian plants in our gardens come from. You can walk there from the Ponds if you're keen.
Easy to visit, impossible to forget
No need to book — simply rock up during opening hours.
You can spend 20 minutes or 2 hours, completely up to you.
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Come see lobsters the size of your arm.
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Watch critically endangered parrots crack into blue gum blossoms.
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Walk through gardens of ancient Tasmanian species.
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Have a scone with a view that stretches across the valley.
It's a 10-minute detour from Wynyard and there's nowhere else like it in Australia.
Open Thursday-Sunday (spring & summer) 10am-3pm | Saturday & Sunday (autumn & winter) 10am-3pm | $15 adults | Kids free