Rainbow Beach
Carlo Sand Blow
Rainbow Beach is the perfect place for a getaway with rolling surf and kilometres of unspoilt, white sandy beaches. This former sandmining town is often known as the ‘Gateway to Fraser Island’, but this town of around 900 people has so many attractions that it’s an eco-tourism destination in its own right.
The Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park invites you into a four-wheel drive wonderland of rainforest, freshwater lakes and deserted beaches. Visit the outstanding attractions such as the Coloured Sands, Carlo Sand Blow, Double Island Point, Inskip Point and the Cherry Venture Shipwreck. The park is full of bush-walking tracks, picnic facilities and offers the only beach camping facilities between Fraser Island and Noosa.
Horseback riding on Rainbow Beach
Boating is a popular pursuit from Rainbow Beach, as Carlo Point offers access to the protected waterways of Tin Can Bay Inlet. From here, recreational boats can put into the Inlet and open up a host of fishing and watersports options. And, of course, fishing from the beach remains one of the primary activities of visitors and locals alike.
Rainbow Beach highlights
Lake Poona
Take a few sausages for a barbeque and after lunch walk through the rainforests for a swim in Lake Poona. Please check the road conditions from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service beforehand as road conditions may vary.
Visit the Coloured Sands by 4WD
Coloured Sands
Just a short drive from the freshwater camping area, this magnificent natural structure is worth the drive. It is vital to check the tides before four-wheel driving along the beach.
Cherry Venture Shipwreck
This former cargo ship was swept onto Teewah Beach during cyclone conditions in July 1973. After four years of frustration trying to free the ship, its owners abandoned it to its current role of posing for curious on-lookers.
Four Wheel Driving
A number of tours to the Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park and Fraser Island operate out of Rainbow Beach. A commentary provides background information on these truly spectacular natural attractions. For independent travellers, maps and information is available from the Cooloola Region Visitor’s Information Centre.
Double Island Point Lighthouse
Double Island Point Lighthouse
This spectacular lookout offers breathtaking views of the coastline in either direction. Dolphins and other wildlife have been spotted and, during the migration season, whales have often been sighted off the point.
Carlo Sand Blow
The Carlo Sandblow at Rainbow Beach is a popular launching pad for hanglider enthusiasts, with a walking track to the Sandblow from Cooloola Drive.
