The Torres Strait forms the northern seaward boundary of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef region.
It lies between the northern tip of Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula and New Guinea. The strait contains hundreds of islands and reefs, although only some of its islands are permanently inhabited. Its shallow, complex waters connect the Arafura Sea with the Coral Sea and create demanding conditions for navigation.
The northern end of the Great Barrier Reef approaches the Torres Strait, while the reef’s main body runs southward along Queensland’s coast. This geographic relationship is why the strait is often used to describe the reef’s northern limit, even though the wider region includes interconnected habitats and reef formations around the passage.
Torres Strait is also culturally significant. Torres Strait Islander peoples have deep connections with its islands, waters and marine resources. The strait should not be confused with Bass Strait, which separates mainland Australia from Tasmania, or Cook Strait, which separates New Zealand’s North and South Islands.