Which Australian state contains the Great Barrier Reef?

Queensland contains Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The reef runs along the state’s northeastern coastline in the Coral Sea, extending for more than 2,300 kilometres from the Torres Strait region toward the waters north of Fraser Island.

Queensland is Australia’s second-largest state by area and has a long tropical and subtropical coastline. Major mainland gateways to the reef include Cairns, Port Douglas, Townsville, Airlie Beach and Bundaberg. These centres support tourism, scientific research and transport to nearby reefs and islands.

The reef is offshore rather than part of Queensland’s mainland shoreline. Its ecosystem includes thousands of individual reefs, continental islands, coral cays, seagrass beds and deeper marine habitats. This is why maps may show a broad marine region rather than a single solid band of coral.

The state’s coastal communities are closely connected to reef management, but Australia’s national and state authorities share responsibilities for protecting the ecosystem. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is administered federally through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.