Reef Conservation & Science Walk
Learn about Great Barrier Reef conservation and climate science at Reef HQ Aquarium and the Australian Institute of Marine Science — understanding the reef's health and the work being done to protect it.
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Reef HQ Aquarium
Reef HQ Aquarium in Cairns presents the Great Barrier Reef in controlled conditions — the exhibit on coral bleaching and climate impacts gives essential context for what visitors will experience on the reef itself.
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AIMS Townsville Campus
The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) in Townsville is the world's leading reef research institution — public tours of the facility show the cutting-edge science monitoring the reef's health and developing interventions.
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Coral Nursery Research Site
AIMS researchers grow coral in nurseries and transplant heat-resistant strains to degraded reef sections — the coral restoration program is one component of a wider effort to give the reef the best chance of surviving climate change.
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Bleached Reef Section
Scientists guide visitors to sections of the reef showing both bleaching damage and recovery — understanding what bleaching looks like and how reefs can recover is essential context for appreciating the reef's resilience.
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Traditional Owner Sea Country
The Great Barrier Reef is Sea Country for numerous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups — their traditional management knowledge is being integrated with Western science in the reef's contemporary governance.
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Healthy Reef Recovery Zone
After learning about threats, visiting a healthy reef section shows the system's remarkable resilience — in areas with reduced local stressors, coral coverage and fish abundance demonstrate what the entire reef could look like with action on climate change.