Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef lies in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland in north-eastern Australia. It stretches for more than 2,300 km and covers about 344,400 square kilometres, making it the largest coral reef system in the world. It is made up of more than 2,900 individual reefs and about 900 islands.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including around 70 clan groups, have long-standing cultural ties to the reef and its sea country. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was created in 1975 and is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority together with the Queensland government. UNESCO listed the reef as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

The reef is built by billions of tiny coral polyps and supports a huge range of marine life, including hundreds of species of hard and soft coral, thousands of species of fish and molluscs, sea turtles, sharks, rays, dugongs and whales. Its outer ribbon reefs, inner reefs, sand cays and continental islands each offer different experiences, from coral gardens close to the surface to deep walls and wrecks. Rising sea temperatures have caused repeated mass coral bleaching, including in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024 and 2025, and protecting the reef is a major national issue.

The most popular areas are around Cairns and Port Douglas in the north and the Whitsunday Islands further south, with boat trips, snorkelling, diving, scenic flights and island stays.

Day trips leave from coastal towns, and operators include a reef management charge in their prices. The water is clearest in the dry season from about June to October. From roughly November to May, stinger suits are recommended because of jellyfish. Choose operators that follow marine park rules, and use reef-safe sunscreen.