TRAVEL INFORMATION

Marine Park and World Heritage

Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s most extensive coral reef system, which together with sea grass, mangrove, soft bottom and island habitats, enable the park to showcase the richest collection of faunal diversity in the world.

In recognition of its environmental significance, the Great Barrier Reef was established as a marine park by the Australian Government in 1975. In 1981 it was granted World Heritage status and is now the largest protected World Heritage Area and marine park on Earth.

Beyond conservation values, it is also home to culturally and archeologically significant sites of Australia’s traditional inhabitants, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders plus more than 30 shipwrecks and lighthouses of historical importance.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park makes up 99 per cent of the World Heritage Area. The rest are islands (half of which are managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service), deep bays and narrow inlets of the Queensland coastline and mainland shipping ports.

The marine park is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), who administer usage of the reef, ensure best practices for reef preservation are adhered to, conduct research and provide an information resource.

Detailed information about reef zonings (where you can dive, fish etc) can be found on the GBRMPA website.

For more information on Queensland's Marine Parks, visit the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services website.