Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

Great Barrier Reef Aquarium Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is currently closed for transformation. Please visit our website for information.
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One of the richest, most complex and diverse ecosystems in the world, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park begins at the tip of Cape York in Queensland and extends south to Bundaberg. The area is larger than Victoria and Tasmania combined and stretches more than 2300km along the north-east coast of Australia. Located on Flinders Street East, Reef HQ Aquarium is an easy walk from Townsville's CBD, The Strand and Magnetic Island ferry terminal.

20/06/2026

What is that beautiful pink algae growing in our tanks?

That's Crustose Coralline Algae and it's pure gold for our corals.

🤩

With the Soccer World Cup bringing everyone together, here’s a stat worth stopping for...🛑 An estimated 68,649,829 regul...
19/06/2026

With the Soccer World Cup bringing everyone together, here’s a stat worth stopping for...🛑

An estimated 68,649,829 regulation soccer pitches would fit inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

It’s a reminder of just how vast, extraordinary and globally significant this natural wonder is.

While the world watches the game, we’re celebrating the scale of the Great Barrier Reef. 🤩

🪸 This week's coral feature is the Acropora loripes 🪸 Here's some cool facts:📍 Home: Indo-Pacific reefs (Indonesia, Aust...
17/06/2026

🪸 This week's coral feature is the Acropora loripes 🪸

Here's some cool facts:

📍 Home: Indo-Pacific reefs (Indonesia, Australia, Philippines)
🎨 Colors: Greens, purples, browns, and creamy pinks
📏 Growth: Fast-growing coral that can create incredible formations
💜 Fun Fact: The species name "loripes" refers to its distinctive thick, finger-like branches - like nature's own sculpture!

16/06/2026

Who's ready to test their coral knowledge?

Watch as we attempt to name as many coral species as possible... 🪸

Drop your favourite coral species in the comments! (Bonus points if it's one we missed! 😄)

It was great to host Deputy Mayor Cr Suzy Batkovic and Townsville City Council Executives for a behind-the-scenes look a...
15/06/2026

It was great to host Deputy Mayor Cr Suzy Batkovic and Townsville City Council Executives for a behind-the-scenes look at our thriving fish and coral holding facilities at the Australian Institute of Marine Science recently. Literally seeing the growth of a new era in tropical reef education! 🐟 🪸

What makes this visit even more special, is the ongoing collaboration and support of the Townsville City Council, who continue to work alongside us to make our vision for a new Aquarium a reality – a transformational project that will serve our community for generations to come.

Thanks for visiting! 🙏

12/06/2026

Aren't they fascinating?!

Watching these corals sway and dance is a beautiful reminder that life underwater moves at its own rhythm.

This is just a small selection of corals we are growing behind the scenes for future exhibits. Which one is your favourite?

10/06/2026

When the buffet finally opens 😋

Welcome to all our new followers! We're thrilled to have you here 🤩 Here are four ways you can get involved:1. Listen to...
08/06/2026

Welcome to all our new followers! We're thrilled to have you here 🤩

Here are four ways you can get involved:

1. Listen to this Podcast 👂

In Season 2 Episode 4 of the Reef Authority’s Reef in Focus Podcast, Fred Nucifora, the Reef Authority’s General Manager of Major Projects, shares the facts on the redevelopment and the vital role the Aquarium continues to play in Reef education, science, and storytelling. https://bit.ly/3E4YFET

2. Have your say 📢

If you could design an interactive exhibit that celebrates the Reef and its unique creatures, what would it be?
Contact us and share your ideas on what you would like to see, hear, and feel in the new Aquarium.
Email: [email protected]

3. Subscribe to our free newsletter 📖

Get exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and behind-the-scenes progress on the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium redevelopment. https://bit.ly/3Yz7lLg

4. Frequently Asked Questions ✅

Got questions? We've got answers. Visit our website for the latest information here https://bit.ly/3tXKKeO

Candy Cane Coral is our 🪸 Named for its striped, rounded polyps, Candy Cane Coral is a colourful and hardy reef species...
03/06/2026

Candy Cane Coral is our 🪸

Named for its striped, rounded polyps, Candy Cane Coral is a colourful and hardy reef species with a branching skeleton. Its fleshy heads expand under the right conditions, creating a bold, clustered display.

Peaceful by nature, it can live close to other non-aggressive corals and is often admired for its bright colour and sculptural form.

Mermaid Mythology 🧜‍♀️For many of us, our first introduction to mermaids came from Disney's The Little Mermaid, a story ...
02/06/2026

Mermaid Mythology 🧜‍♀️

For many of us, our first introduction to mermaids came from Disney's The Little Mermaid, a story based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale published in 1837.

But mermaid myths go back further then that...

🐚 One of the earliest known stories is the Syrian goddess Atargatis who transformed into a mermaid circa 1000 BC.

⚔️ Greek folklore claims Alexander the Great's sister, Thessalonike, became a mermaid after her death in 295 BC, living in the Aegean Sea.

From ancient goddesses to Disney princesses, it seems people have always been fascinated by these mythical creatures, including our very own!

What's your favorite mermaid tale?

📸

Address

2-68 Flinders Street
Townsville, QLD
4810

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 9pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 10am - 9pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5:30pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5:30pm

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