The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on earth at 348,700 km² and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription in 1981.
Home to over 9,000 species of marine life, the reef as we know it today, sits on top of ancient coral which is estimated to be over 20 million years old in places. Here you’ll find 1,625 species of fish, 3,000 species of molluscs, six of the seven different types of marine turtles and 30 species of whales and dolphins, to name but a few.
With such a rich, biodiverse environment, it is no surprise that Cairns has become one of the leading places to conduct research within the Marine Science field. Many of the world’s leading researchers have delivered groundbreaking discoveries which have helped address some of the health challenges faced not only by those living in the tropics, but across the globe.
“We have some of the best researchers and groups in the world based here in Cairns, and they are doing some amazing work.”
