Townsville hosts Reef HQ Aquarium, a major public Great Barrier Reef education centre.
Reef HQ Aquarium is located in Townsville, Queensland, beside the city’s waterfront. It was developed as a large public aquarium and education facility focused on the Great Barrier Reef, allowing visitors to see reef habitats without entering the ocean. Exhibits have included living corals, reef fish, sharks, rays, turtles, and educational displays about conservation.
The aquarium has also had an important turtle rehabilitation role through its Turtle Hospital, which treats injured or sick marine turtles before possible release. Townsville is sometimes confused with Cairns because Cairns is a famous gateway for reef tourism, but the two cities have different roles. Townsville is also closely associated with James Cook University and marine research, making it a significant centre for studying and communicating about tropical marine ecosystems.