Welcome to Paradise
There’s so much to see and do in Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach is an idyllic, subtropical, coastal town situated on the Great Beach Drive, and is the southern gateway to K’gari (Fraser Island). The area is an adventure playground with striking natural beauty. Experience horse rides on the beach, explore the breathtaking scenery of Cooloola National Park, canoe the waterways, kayak with dolphins, or discover the coloured sands, Carlo Sand Blow and Double Island Point. There is an abundance of wildlife including whales, dolphins, manta rays, turtles and a large variety of bird species.
Beautiful rolling surf, sandy unspoiled beaches and surrounding national parks make Rainbow Beach the perfect place to get away from it all.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land in and around Rainbow Beach. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation.
Aboriginal Legend of the Coloured Sands
Way back in the dream-time there lived by the beach a beautiful, black maiden named Murrawar who fell in love with the Rainbow who came to visit her every evening in the sky. She would clap her hands and sing to this lovely Rainbow.
One day Burwilla, a very bad man from a distant tribe, stole Murrawar for his slave wife. Often beating her cruelly and making her do all his work while he sat in the shade admiring his terrible killing boomerang. This boomerang was bigger than the biggest tree and full of evil spirits.
One day Murrawar ran away and as she hurried along near the beach, which was then all flat, she looked back and saw Burwilla’s boomerang coming to kill her. Calling out for help she fell to the ground to frightened to run. Suddenly she heard a loud noise in the sky and saw her faithful Rainbow racing towards her across the sea.
The wicked Burwilla attacked the brave Rainbow and they met with a roar like thunder. The boomerang died instantly, and the Rainbow shattered into many pieces, which fell to the beach forming the coloured sands cliffs which are still there to this day.
Carlo Sand Blow
While staying at Rainbow Beach, a visit to the Carlo Sand Blow is a must.
The scenery from the top is just stunning with views of Double Island Point, Tin Can Bay and the coloured sands.
To get there drive to the end of Cooloola Drive and take a short walk along a wooded track to the natural sand blow.
You won’t be disappointed. Extra special times to visit are sunrise or sunset … spectacular.
Cooloola National Park
The Cooloola National Park is a section of the Great Sandy National Park stretching from Rainbow Beach to the Noosa river.
Enjoy bush walking, boating, fishing, picnics and swimming; the Cooloola National Park has many picnic areas and bushwalking tracks to explore.
Areas of interest include Seary’s Creek, Bymien picnic grounds, Lake Poona, Cooloola Great Walk and the Cooloola Wilderness Trail. Camping on the Beach at Teewah or at the Freshwater Campgrounds is a unique experience
Call in for more information on this beautiful part of the world.
Double Island Point Lighthouse
This spectacular lookout offers the best scenery anywhere in the world.
Pods of dolphins, turtles, dugongs, sharks and other marine life can often be seen from here. Down along the beach is Double Island Point with the longest wave break in Australia.
A sight to behold! Tours available… just pop in and we will organise everything for you.
Inskip Point
The aboriginal name for Inskip Point is Carah. It was the site for a school for the children of the local lighthouse keeper and timber workers.
Today it is the gateway to K’gari (Fraser Island) with barges on the go from sunup to sundown. Great fishing can also be had – both Estuary and Beach fishing.
Inskip’s real claim to fame is it’s camping grounds which are run by ‘National Parks’ … Beaut natural camping grounds that are dog friendly.
You’ll really get away from it all.
Coloured Sands
Poona Lake
A beautiful tea-coloured freshwater lake surrounded by a white sandy beach. To get there just drive to the Bymien picnic area and take the 2.2km walking track for a cool refreshing swim.
Poona Lake is an oasis and one of the few places on Earth where rainforests grow on ancient sand dunes.
This is the land of the Kabi people, a perched lake formed between the dunes, Poona Lake’s banks are lined with twisted paperbarks, sedges and reeds, while its reddish-tinged waters, stained by the surrounding native tea trees, are surprisingly clear up close.
Seary's Creek
Discover refreshing swimming holes at Seary’s Creek day rest area on Rainbow Beach Road, seven and a half kilometre south of Rainbow Beach.
The one hundred metre wheel chair accessible timber boardwalk passes through heath and low woodland. Seary’s Creek was named after Patrick Searey who was one of the early timber getters to work on Fraser Island in the 1860′s.
It was Patrick who introduced bullock teams to haul the enormous Kauri Pine logs to Seary’s Creek where they were rafted to a sawmill on the banks.
4WD On The Beach
Drive along the beach and enjoy the spectacle of the coloured sands. 4WD access is from Griffin Parade next to the surf lifesaving tower to the south and from Inskip Point Road to the north. Don’t forget your permit.
Only drive at low tide and watch out for the ‘coffee rock’ … don’t want to end up on the ‘wall of shame’!
Call into the shop where you’ll get expert advice on beach conditions, how to 4WD safely … pick up your free tide chart and see our “ceiling of shame”
Permits are now required to drive on the beach between Noosa and Rainbow Beach.
Fishing
Beach fishing is one of Rainbow Beaches greatest attractions with catches of Whiting, Flathead, Dart, Tailor and Bream in abundance.
Fishing charters are available or just hire a tinny for the day and fish the estuaries …
We can show you the spots to get the big ones.
Swimming
Our beautiful surf beach is patrolled all year round by both professional lifeguards and volunteers.
The flagged area is netted for your peace of mind so don’t forget to swim between the flags.
Remember “If they can’t see you they can’t save you”.
Learn to Surf
Rainbow Beach Learn to Surf, an ASI Accredited Surf School in Rainbow Beach. Join us for a fun surfing experience within walking distance to parking, shops and accommodation. Let our Accredited Surf Coaches teach you the skills of surfing in a fun, supportive and relaxed environment.
We also offer surf-skate training sessions to improve surfing performance and skills, are the area stockist for SmoothStar surf-skate boards.
Paragliding
Feel the freedom of surfing air.
Paragliding is the new hang gliding. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a hollow fabric wing whose shape is formed by its suspension lines, the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing and the aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside.
Flights usually last between 1 – 2 hours and cover several miles, often climbing to altitudes of a few thousand metres.