Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium in Townsville, Queensland | Wildlife sanctuary

Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium

Locality: Townsville, Queensland

Phone: +61 7 4750 0800

Address: 2-68 Flinders Street 4810 Townsville, QLD, Australia

Website: http://www.reefHQ.com.au

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• Arts and entertainment
• Wildlife sanctuary
• Aquarium
• Educational research centre

25.01.2022 Today is World Tourism Day. We're sending a big THANK YOU to all our visitors and members who have supported us and continue to do so We're also thanking our Number 1 Fan who drew this sea-sational picture. We're usually the ones sharing the wonders of the Reef with our visitors but this time, a young visitor shared her love for the Reef with us

25.01.2022 We know you should never smile at a crocodile, but with World Smile Day being today it's hard not to smile at this little freshwater croc Charlie's cheeky grin has been a welcomed sight at Reef HQ for 3 months now and we've seen his personality shine through This sometimes shy little guy can be found in our freshwater crocodile exhibit near the cafe.

24.01.2022 This egg-cellent video explains how buoyancy works Try this egg trick at home and see for yourself how you can make things float with a little bit of salt or even hover in mid water to achieve neutral buoyancy. Stay tuned for Connie's next video, which explores how our divers use buoyancy.

23.01.2022 Give something a future beyond the bin for National Recycling Week When recycled, items get a second lease of life. Plastic bottles can return as t-shirts, insulation for sleeping bags, pillows, carpeting and more, including caps, hats and bags like our Turtle Hospital items. While the goal is to reduce our plastic use, recycling plastics is better than it ending up in our oceans where it is estimated a plastic bottle takes up to 450 years to breakdown!

23.01.2022 We are missing the toothy grins from our visitors to Reef HQ. Have some images from your visit to the Aquarium that you forgot to share? Be sure to tag us in your posts or share your experience at Reef HQ Aquarium in the comments below ... www.instagram.com/dentistrywithali/

21.01.2022 The world's largest living coral reef aquarium is mesmerising to 'sea' Home to over 150 species of fish and over 120 species of hard and soft corals that call the Great Barrier Reef home, there is always something new to discover in this 2.5million litre exhibit. Built over 33 years ago, it functions as an ecosystem, with the marine life behaviours' mimicking those you witness when visiting the actual Reef. Thank you @nellisaarinen for sharing your sea-sational picture with us.

20.01.2022 Congratulations to the Education Team who have received top honours for their innovative, immersive and interactive virtual connections outreach education program. The inaugural Hall of Fame Award from the US-based Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration recognises the remarkable quality of digital educational content and exceptional program delivery. Reef HQ Aquarium is the only Australian organisation to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and one of only 15 recipi...ents around the world! You can experience this award winning program, by booking a virtual connection for your school or community group too. http://bit.ly/2MLGuaD

20.01.2022 We've had an energetic Thursday Glaciem Cooling Technologies founder and CEO, Julian Hudson has been at Reef HQ to commission a thermal energy storage (TES) and renewable energy system. We are excited to become the first aquarium in the world to run this revolutionary system. The onsite thermal battery will store excess solar power generated through our solar array as ice. This thermal energy will then be used at night to power our life support systems and temperature co...ntrols for the coral reef exhibit, the world's largest living coral reef aquarium, which requires uninterrupted power 24/7. This project received funding from ARENA as part of ARENA’S Advancing Renewable Program. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3bKsc4u

19.01.2022 Meet Don our hands on hero at Reef HQ Aquarium "Aquatic life forms technician" is the best description for Don’s role at Reef HQ. His daily focus is caring for our animals. This includes the maintenance of critical life support systems that are essential for their wellbeing. The diversity of his daily tasks is what he enjoys most about his work at Reef HQ.... Here he can be seen operating the reservoir valve, which is part of our new protein skimmers setup. Protein skimmers are a key piece of machinery used to assist in maintaining the health of the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium.

19.01.2022 Our red-line cleaner shrimp has shed its exo-skeleton just in time for summer. But this isn’t something it’s done to escape the heat. Shrimp shed their exo-skeleton as they grow. Unlike humans whose skeletons are on the inside and grow as we do, a shrimps skeleton is on the outside and it needs to shed and regrow their exo-skeleton as their body gets bigger.

19.01.2022 The school holidays are near, and the Reef Education team have been busy delivering their free virtual connections programs to Reef Guardian Schools This term the team has delivered 8 sessions on topics such as climate change, threatened species in the Great Barrier Reef and litter reduction plans. With more than 100 connections in Term 3 the team has inspired over 1400 participants with their educational presentations. Visit https://bit.ly/2DJWo34 to see what topics are available in Term 4 for your Reef Guardian School. Term 4 Virtual Connection bookings open on Friday 25th September.

18.01.2022 Today is World Maritime Day and this year's theme is about sustainable shipping The shipping industry has already adopted measures to reduce marine litter, which helps our mermaids, who, unable to flip by Reef HQ these school holidays, are spending their time removing marine debris. When out on the water, remember you're sharing the sea and practice:... Taking all litter with you to throw away (or recycle) on shore Collecting any litter that you find on and in the water and on land See more

17.01.2022 Today marks the start of NAIDOC Week and we are honored to be able to highlight and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Sea Country Exhibit. Through art and artifacts our Sea Country Exhibit shares the stories of Gubal (a giant snake), the Stewards of the Reef and the Bounty of the Reef. These stories and artifacts capture the strong connection between sea and country and highlights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owner groups long and continuous relationship with the Great Barrier Reef.

17.01.2022 Our green tree frog was spotted hanging onto the glass of its enclosure Sadly days like today, National Threatened Species Day, reminds us that many species are hanging on for their survival. Some Reef favourites that have populations threatened globally, include:... Zebra Sharks, known as a leopard shark in Australia are endangered Napolean Wrasse are endangered Green Sea Turtles are endangered Dugongs are vulnerable Human impacts play a large role on the health of the Reef and the animals that live there. Reduce your impact on the Great Barrier Reef by using less energy, being responsible when out on the reef and by taking steps to reduce, reuse and recycle waste and by refusing single use plastics. Lean more about what you can do at https://bit.ly/3gbiWYu

16.01.2022 Infamous in north Queensland are marine stingers, comprising the box jellyfish and their smaller cousin the Irukandji, two of the three deadly box jellyfish species found globally. The largest and most venomous of the box jellyfish have a body size up to 40 cm in diameter. On each corner are 15 tentacles, which reach 3 metres in length. Boxies live in estuaries and generally, within 10km of the shoreline. The Irukandji are no bigger than your thumbnail and only have 4 tentacles reaching 1 metre. These jellies can be found further offshore but are washed into inshore areas.

16.01.2022 Wearing the 'reminder rope' necklace has become a rite of passage for many at Reef HQ Aquarium The necklace appeared over 4 years ago and was designed for aquarists and other staff to wear when conducting water changes, water intakes and other timely tasks. The hard to miss necklace often sparks questions from visitors and staff, that act as a fashionable reminder of the important job the necklace wearer is working on; the need to open or close a valve on one of our critical systems.

16.01.2022 Similarly to divers, who expand and contract the vests they wear to control their buoyancy, fish have an organ that they can expand and contract too! It’s a swim bladder! Instead of air like in the divers vest, the swim bladder is filled with gas. It reflects sound, which is used to find fish with sonar equipment. But more importantly, it helps fish swim efficiently. Watch the video below to find out how it works

15.01.2022 Today marks our 34th birthday! At Reef HQ we celebrate birthdays a little differently, with bubbles not balloons Balloons can be deadly. Once they deflate and return to land animals can mistake the deflated balloon as food. ... Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and birds are some of the many animals that have been found with balloons in their stomachs. The ribbons and strings from balloons can also cause major damage to wildlife, leading to entanglement and potentially, death. You can choose to also celebrate your next birthday with bubbles instead of balloons. Want to learn more ways you can help the environment? Read our blog https://bit.ly/2RJnlKP

15.01.2022 It’s go for a ride day today Here's one sweet ride!! Most mornings you can spot David making his way to Reef HQ Aquarium on his penny farthing. Popular in the 1880s, this penny farthing isn’t just fun to ride and a spectacle to see, it also helps David keep fit and reduce his carbon footprint. ... You can reduce your own carbon footprint by choosing to: Ride, walk, carpool or use public transport Use vehicles with improved fuel efficiency

14.01.2022 We've been 'tide' down getting the aquarium ready for you to visit from Monday July 13th. Bookings are open now and are essential! Pre-book your visit at https://www.trybooking.com/BKEGN When we reopen, there will be a sea change to your visit Watch the video below to learn more about these changes.

14.01.2022 We're just over halfway through Movember, and on the Great Barrier Reef, goatfish wear a mo / beard / goatee best The "goatee" are a pair of long, sensory chin barbels. These barbels can sense food, such as small, bottom-living invertebrates in the sand. When not fossicking for food, the barbels are held in a groove on the throat.

13.01.2022 This Jack of all trades can be found taking care of the animals that call Reef HQ home and their exhibits. Over the next few weeks you’ll see Connie in a series of upcoming videos about buoyancy Over 5 years at Reef HQ Connie has gained a broad knowledge in not just our animals but in everything related to our animals, including plumbing, electronics, veterinary care, animal training, chemistry and more! She has also had roles in education and marketing, providing her with an overarching view of all our operations. Tune into over the school holidays to see this expert Aquarist share some of her knowledge on all things floating, sinking and hovering.

13.01.2022 Game 2 of the State of Origin is on tonight, and we have two new mascots representing the teams. Who are you backing? - Maroon Clownfish (QLD Maroons) - Blue Green Chromis (NSW Blues)

13.01.2022 See the reef shine bright under UV light for this year's Reef by Night inspired Members' Christmas Party 5:30pm - 7:30pm on Friday, 11th December. Entry includes a seasnack dinner pack and some sea-rious fun with Pinky's disco, face painting and a visit from Lucky T Turtle.... Visit https://bit.ly/3pU5Xjh for ticket prices and booking links.

13.01.2022 Ever wondered who sticks their neck out most around Reef HQ? Well it’s definitely the eastern long neck turtle. This little turtle can be found in the freshwater crocodile exhibit near the cafe, but you can also spot turtles just like him in the Ross River. Like those in Ross River, our eastern long neck turtle is shy in nature and at times a little bit cheeky, often stealing food from the freshwater crocodile that he shares a home with. He loves prawns, little pieces of fish and sometimes for his greens, peas.

12.01.2022 It's been a while since we saw these familiar faces at Reef HQ Our volunteers love sharing their knowledge and passion for the Reef. Since COVID began they have been unable to join us and answer your questions. This week we invited them to revisit the aquarium and catch up.

11.01.2022 First Aid isn't just a thought on National First Aid Day, first aid items should be on hand and on your mind even for a trip to the beach. Tick these first aid items off your list of things to bring on your next visit to the beach or reef. A first aid kit - for bumps, scratches or bruises Vinegar - for jellyfish stings... A thermos of hot water - for venomous stings from stone fish or stingrays There is a world of wonder to discover out on the reef and on our beaches, remember to have fun and stay safe when exploring!

11.01.2022 Our elves have been busy decorating. Reef HQ is ready for the festive SEA-son

11.01.2022 Happy birthday to Cairns Aquarium who are celebrating their third year! We collaborated with Cairns Aquarium a few years ago, delivering two baby olive seasnakes who were born and reared at Reef HQ through our captive breeding program. Animal exchange between aquariums is common practice and is essential to managing the gene pool of captive populations while also reducing the impact on wild populations. Here is a short video of our sea snakes when they were delivered to Cairns Aquarium in 2018 and were exploring their new home

11.01.2022 In the Federal Budget announced last month, we received $5.6 million over 3 years to upgrade exhibits. As part of our exhibit revitalisation, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is undertaking a consultation and co-design process with Reef Traditional Owners to develop Connection of Sea Country exhibitions. This will also include other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage education/exhibits, and reef education resource and program development to improve understanding of cultural knowledge, connection to sea country and the protection and promotion of Indigenous heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef. The below Traditional Owner artwork is by Patricia Galvin, and is part of our Acknowledgement to Country as you enter Reef HQ.

10.01.2022 Sea urchins play an important role in coral biodiversity; they clean rocks around coral reefs, giving juvenile coral a clean place to settle and grow Sea urchins are not only found cleaning around coral reefs, these diverse animals can be found in most habitats on the Great Barrier Reef; with over 100 species found between shallow waters or the deep sea. At Reef HQ you can spy long-spine sea urchins, boring sea urchin (as it bores into the reef) and decorator sea urchins.

08.01.2022 There’s nothing fishy about IDing this fish The QLD Fishing 2.0 app was recently released to help identify catch using the app's fish recognition technology and we think it’s fin-tastic! The app not only helps you ID the fish you’ve caught, but can also be used to:... See the fishing rules in any location with the ‘Can I Fish Here’ feature Learn more about the catch, such as approximate age based on the fish size entered in the app Receive Fisheries Queensland notifications including reminders about upcoming fishing closures You can download the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's free app by searching ‘Qld Fishing 2.0’ in the App Store or via Google Play.

08.01.2022 With Christmas just over a month away, the gift giving season is now in full swing and there's nothing like the present to use your gift cards. Pre-purchased gift cards and member vouchers will need to be used sooner rather than later due to our planned closure in 2021. You can use your pre-purchased gift card in our gift shop, at the Waterview Café, or for entry into the aquarium.

08.01.2022 From our schools of fish to schools throughout the Great Barrier Reef catchment Despite not being able to provide face-to-face engagement with schools this year, the Education team have managed to reach out to all Reef Guardian Schools and uphold the pillars of the education program. Care. Learn. Act. Share. Stewardship. Across 10 virtual connections in semester two, the team dived into 31 Reef Guardian schools, engaging with 1128 students and teachers. ... Stay tuned for details on the virtual connections program next year, where due to our closure, the Education team will be redeveloping and delivering their living classroom experience digitally.

07.01.2022 When it's maroons vs blues, who do you choose? Ask our moray

07.01.2022 He doesn't have a hovercraft but this diver can still hover with a little thing called buoyancy control! Watch the video to learn how divers can control if they are negatively or positively buoyant and how they achieve the ideal, neutral buoyancy or hovering.

06.01.2022 We’ve hoisted the sails to give our corals some shade from the harsh summer sun At just 4 metres deep, our coral reef exhibit is shallower than much of the Great Barrier Reef, where corals can be found up to 100 metres deep. Using shade covers over the exhibit gives our corals a layer of protection from excessive light and heat, which can harm them.

05.01.2022 We'll be getting a facelift! As part of the Government's COVID19 Relief and Recovery Fund, we received $5million for a modern new facade, and a new admissions and foyer area. For many years our public 'face' has been the iconic spire that was the 'Omnimax Theatre', which is due to be demolished with the redevelopment of the adjacent site. A new facade will create a distinctive and clearly identifiable landmark for the Aquarium, and enhance street appeal and accessibility for... the visitor. Learn more https://bit.ly/36kLixj

04.01.2022 It's Friday the 13th! Don't walk under any ladders. Don't break any mirrors. And don't take your chance with stingers; wear a stinger suit when you enter the ocean. The stinger nets have recently been reinstalled along the Strand and other swimming beaches along the Queensland coast. The tentacles of box jellyfish are lined with stinging cells, which insert through the skin and into the blood stream where venom is fired. When entering the water, wearing a stinger suit offers protection from these stinging tentacles. If stung, call 000 and treat with vinegar to disable the stinging cells. Stinger season runs from now until May.

04.01.2022 Can't hop on over to the aquarium to make your pre-booked session? Remember to cancel your booking so that others can book in and have a hopping time instead Canceling your booking is easy. Open your booking confirmation email (check your junk or spam folder) and click on the "Contact Event Organiser" button at the bottom of the email. From there you will be able to notify us that you wish to cancel your booking. (Including the booking date and session time in your message will help us find your booking easily).

04.01.2022 It's of-fish-ally Sea Week A week to encourage the appre-sea-ation of the sea There is a rich and diverse world underwater and with oceans making up over 70% of the earth, there’s a lot to see under the sea. From the world's largest animal, the blue whale to some of the smallest organisms, phytoplankton, the ocean is home to so many amazing wonders.... What’s your favourite thing about the sea? ( Here's a sneak peek from inside our coral reef exhibit)

02.01.2022 It's International Day of Sign Languages Some of our Reef HQ volunteers were eager to show you all how they sign some of Reef HQ's favourite animals. Our volunteers began learning AUSLAN last year and despite COVID, have continued to learn and build their AUSLAN skills online. Watch the video below to see Reef Education Officer Catie and volunteers Andrew and David sign some easy animals signs that you can learn too.

02.01.2022 Tomorrow is International Talk Like A Pirate Day! "Ahoy, me hearties!" is a pirate’s favourite way to say "G'day mate" Thinking of sailing into Reef HQ to say ahoy and try your hand at some pirate phrases? Remember to book in before you set sail ... If your desired session is booked out online, you’re welcome to sail into Reef HQ as a walk-in an hour after the session has begun as we may be able to fit you in! See our session times and make a booking at https://www.trybooking.com/BKEGN

01.01.2022 It's Sustainable House Day and this clownfish has a super sustainable place to call home. Clownfish have a symbiotic relationship with anemones meaning they have a mutually beneficial life together. Anemones provide a safe place for clownfish to live. In return clownfish clean the anemone, provide nutrients in the form of waste and work hard to keep anemones safe from predators, such as butterflyfish that can eat the tentacles of an anemone. This picture captures the anemone when it's closed, which usually occurs at night.

01.01.2022 Over 80 species of sharks can be found on the Great Barrier Reef. Sharks play a vital role in the balance of and contribution to biodiversity The presence of sharks can be found in almost every habitat on the Reef, leading to a diverse diet, which includes fish, squid and even krill. A sharks diet impacts marine biodiversity, as it helps to control the population sizes of their prey. Sharks feed upon predatory fish, who feed upon herbivorous fish, which munch on algae. Wit...hout sharks, predatory fish populations explode, which leads to less herbivorous fish, and in turn less fish feeding upon algae (and algae is not good for coral!) The complex food web in Reef habitats, requires sharks to help maintain the balance and the diversity of species. Reef HQ Aquarium is home to 6 species of sharks who can all be found on the Great Barrier Reef. You can see black tips, leopard sharks, northern wobbegongs, epaulettes, a tawny nurse and nervous whaler all without getting wet!

01.01.2022 At Reef HQ we’ve got big plans for our little animals This back-of-house area is in the process of being fitted out as a holding area for our smaller animals. The set up includes small tanks, which can be used for acclimating animals prior to rehoming or restocking and for the treatment of sick and injured animals. It also includes a live feed cultivation space where artemia are hatched to be fed to our corals and other short gut species.... The new fit out also offers the opportunity to develop a range of culturing and propagation projects. A core project would be: Coral propagation. For Reef HQ to use coral propagates to reseed tanks, this project needs to be underway with a long lead time, due to the slow growing nature of coral, their sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions and to ensure tanks are sufficiently reseeded and displaying beautiful coral specimens prior to reopening. Other potential projects include: Breeding common aquaculture species, such as clownfish and seahorses. Jelly culturing. The fit out of this area is expected to be complete by the end of this month.

01.01.2022 What is it? It can be gassy. Charles Darwin reasoned that lungs in air-breathing animals, may have evolved from this. It reflects sound so sonar equipment uses this to find what it seeks.... Not all marine animals have one. Check back in two days to find out!

01.01.2022 Tomorrow is International Day of Yoga and we want to introduce you to one of the oceans more flexible creatures, a starfish. A sea star's skeleton is made up of many plates that move like flexible joints. Their ability to move freely and with flexibility is what sets them apart from their other echinoderm relatives.