4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
240 km by car from Brisbane
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Rainbow Beach (Australia)
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flickr cc texaus1
Practical information about Rainbow Beach
Reviews of Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach is beach on the Sunshine Coast in east Australia. It is special because you can drive there.
My suggestion:
Sand, salt... My advice is to give your car a good clean before you leave Rainbow Beach.
Summary:
As far as I am concerned, what is interesting about Rainbow Beach is how you get there from the south. Which is why I am sharing my trip with you, which is one of my favourite memories of my trip to Australia!
Once I had crossed Noosa River by Ferry, I drove for miles along a magnificent beach. The speed limit is 80 km/h, and watch out for speed cameras. Then you have to take a fine sandy path which arrives at the other side of Double Island Point. Some vehicles were getting stuck but I managed it. But the arrival was its own reward, what a breath of fresh air...when I drew up on a strip of sand between the sea and the lake.
The road (or beach rather) was covered in obstacles: rocks, abandoned cars... I finally got to Rainbow Beach resort which is full of charm, with terraces, and boutiques, as if nothing had happened.
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flickr cc texaus1
Rainbow Beach is a tiny community which takes its name from the colour of the sand. Rainbow Beach is a quiet, well-preserved place that will delight adventurers with vehicles.
My suggestion:
Take the ferry to Fraser Island from Inskip Point. Rent a 4WD or book a tour through the dunes to Double Island Point lighthouse. Dive at Wolf Rock. Go to the Carlo Sandblow for a superb viewpoint!
Summary:
Like most travellers, I went to Rainbow Beach for one reason only: to visit amazing Fraser island, situated off the coast of Rainbow. From there you can embark on a boat for the island, which is listed as a Unesco world heritage site, but you can also get there from Hervey Bay.
Rainbow Beach is a beautiful, crescent-shaped beach. The sand, especially at sunrise or sunset, offers a palette of colours that would make a painter turn green with envy. One thing that you should not miss there is the Carlo Sandblow at sunset: a short walk of about 600 metres from the car park leads you to a magnificent viewpoint, where you can take picture postcard photographs. I very much enjoyed the peacefulness of Rainbow Beach - it is an ideal place for nature lovers. My only regret is that, for the most part, the region is only accessible by 4WD. The Great Sandy National Park, for example, which encircles Rainbow Beach can be crossed by 4WD or kayak on the Noosa River, but there are a few hikes from the town. The whole thing is quite expensive, so I could not fully explore the place. I just stuck mainly to the discovery of Fraser, which was well worth it and which, for me, is an essential visitduring a trip to Australia.
Further south, between Noosa and Rainbow Beach, you can also rent a kayak at Boreen Point to explore the beautiful region of the Everglades, where the mangrove forests mingle with the moorlands. I enjoyed the serenity of immense Lake Coothabarah (5 km wide and 10 km long). I was almost alone when I visited the place, located well off the beaten track. A tip: if you want to camp, at Gympie there are several free places, such as Six Mile Creekn on the road south of Rainbow Beach. They call them "rest areas".
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Lisa Gaillard
257 travellers' photos
