Rainbow Beach | Accommodation, attractions, maps, tours, events, 4WD hire

Rainbow Beach, in the Gympie Cooloola region is situated on the Cooloola Coast between the Sunshine Coast and Fraser Coast in Queensland, Australia, about 240km north of Brisbane. The seaside town is surrounded by the Great Sandy National Park, an area of major ecological importance. VIEW GYMPIE COOLOOLA REGIONAL MAP
With amazing natural attractions, Rainbow Beach boasts extensive beaches and offers a wide range of recreational activities and extreme adventures. A variety of accommodation options are available at Rainbow Beach, from beach camping to boutique resorts and surfside villas.

Experience timeless relaxation and a casual beachside ambience
The sun, surf and sea breezes compliment the full range of activities available in Rainbow Beach. Swim at the patrolled beach a short walk from shops, accommodation, dining and parks. Enjoy a leisurely round of golf, play lawn bowls or shop at boutique specialty stores. Rainbow Beach has a fantastic array of dining options to suit all tastes, from alfresco cafes and contemporary water front restaurants to modern saloon bars and fine dining. Enjoy superb food, complimented with professional friendly service. Regular live entertainment keeps the town pumping after dark.

Enjoy spectacular 360 degree views from Carlo Sandblow
Take an easy 600 metre nature walk from Cooloola Drive to the unique natural attraction Carlo Sandblow. This growing sand dune, which overlooks stunning coloured sand cliffs, covers over 15 hectares. Enjoy amazing views of the coastline and beach which stretches from Double Island Point to Inskip Point at the southern trip of Fraser Island.
Watch colourful hang gliders and para sails catching the breeze. Locals and visitors flock to the Carlo Sandblow in the afternoon to take in the awesome sight of the sun setting over nearby Tin Can Bay.

Discover Rainbow Beach's legendary Coloured Sands
Four wheel drive or walk along the beach to the awesome Coloured Sands that tower over the beach about two kilometres south of Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Club.
Steeped in Aboriginal legend, the sand cliffs which majestically contour the coastline are a unique example of chronosequential dune sequencing. The complex array in tones and hues of the sand formations create a landscape of wonder. This amazing natural attraction is protected as part of the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park.

Humpback Whales visit Rainbow Beach on their way south from Hervey Bay. Canoe from Double Island Point to see turtles, dolphins and dugong. Feel like you are the only person on earth with crystal blue water lapping at the shore for miles surrounded by fresh air. Its a nature feast!

For those with itchy feet and a sense of adventure try the sky diving, deep sea fishing and diving, tours to Fraser Island, surfing, bush walking or swimming at Seary's Creek, a freshwater creek with wheel chair accessible boardwalks to local swimmings holes.

Rainbow Beach Commerce and Tourism Assoc.
As the name suggests this incorporated, not-for-profit, organisation is the local business organisation in Rainbow Beach. They meet 6 times per year and work very hard to promote and represent business and tourism in and around Rainbow Beach. This organisation is also the representative body for the website www.rainbow-beach.org

Click to find more detailed information about Rainbow Beach including activities, businesses, services, tide times and to view live web cams.

Camping is a popular holiday option on the Cooloola Coast
Choose from extensive beach camping sites at Inskip Point, Rainbow Beach. Imagine the serenity of waking up to see the sun rising over gently crashing waves with views of Fraser Island to the north.
Inskip Point is a great area for birdwatching. The best times are at sunrise and sunset. Rainbow Beach and its environs offer abundant and diverse bird watching opportunities with over 250 species identified.
Camping is also permitted at several sites throughout the Great Sandy National Park.

Visit Fraser Island on Rainbow Beach's doorstep
The world's largest sand island is one of the most popular four wheel driving destinations in Australia. Take a ten minute vehicle barge trip to experience Fraser Island for yourself. Barges run continuously between Inskip Point and Hook Point on Fraser Island from 6am to 5.30pm each day.

4WD hire and tours of Fraser Island are available from Rainbow Beach. On Fraser Island you will discover a range of activities including camping, swimming, canoeing and nature walks, with many photo opportunities.

Discover more amazing attractions on the Cooloola Coast
Take a scenic ferry ride from Carlo Point, Rainbow Beach to nearby Tin Can Bay to hand feed wild dolphins. Tin Can Bay with world class marina facilities is the gateway to the Great Sandy Strait, the calm protected waterway between the mainland and Fraser Island. House boat or sail through the Great Sandy Strait. The waterway is home to birds, dolphins, dugong and sea turtles. The estuaries that line the Great Sandy Straits are great for fishing and crabbing. Deep sea fishing on the inside of Fraser yields some large reef fish – fishing charter trips are available.

Getting to Rainbow Beach
From Brisbane, travel by car, bus or train to Gympie on the Bruce Highway, approximately two hours north of Brisbane. From Gympie, travel east by car or bus at Brisbane Road, to Tin Can Bay Road and follow the signs to Rainbow Beach on the Cooloola Coast. An airport shuttle services both the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane airports. From Maryborough, travel along the Maryborough Tuan Road to Tin Can Bay Road. From Noosa four wheel drive north along the Beach Highway from Noosa’s North Shore – accessible by barge at Tewantin.

Explore the surrounding Gympie Cooloola region

From Rainbow Beach drive west for an hour or so to the rolling green hills and lush forests of Mary Valley for a genuine Aussie bush experience. Stop at Gympie along the way and visit the Gold Mining Museum. A self drive tour through Gympie’s scenic northwestern hinterland will lead you to the country towns of Kilkivan and Goomeri, where you can shop for antiques and art, enjoy delicious regional cuisine and local wines.
Rainbow Beach photographs courtesy of Vision and Imagination

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