Rainbow Beach: Walking Trails, Beach and Nature
Accommodation in Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach brings together the coast, outdoor activities and nature in a variety of ways. The landscapes of Cooloola National Park are accessible from here; there is also a walk that starts in town and the northern access point to a long-distance walking trail. The beach and water activities add to the options. When looking for a holiday rental, it is therefore worth considering what you would most like to focus on during your stay: walking, nature, or beach and water experiences. Rainbow Beach is also on the Great Beach Drive.
Walking trails with different points of interest
The Double Island Point walk starts at the QPWS Information Centre near the entrance to Rainbow Beach. The trail is open around the clock. Its starting point is in town, giving travellers who want to include a walk in their stay a convenient place to begin.
The Cooloola Great Walk covers a different scale: it is 102 km long and runs between Noosa North Shore in the south and Rainbow Beach in the north. Its northern access point is at the Carlo Sand Blow car park in Rainbow Beach. This makes it possible to distinguish between a walk that starts in town and access to a 102 km route. If you are interested in the Great Walk, you can take Rainbow Beach’s role as its northern access point into account when choosing your destination.
Beach, swimming and water experiences
The beach is accessible from Rainbow Beach, and there is a patrolled swimming beach in front of the town. Fishing is popular along Rainbow Beach. Swimming and fishing are therefore different reasons to include the beach in your travel plans: for swimmers, the patrolled beach is a specific point of reference, while the popular fishing offers another beach activity. If you choose Rainbow Beach for its beach, you can weigh these interests as a focus in their own right, alongside walking and nature.
Water-based activities are also part of the options: Dolphin View Kayak Tours depart daily from Rainbow Beach. Surf Lessons on Australia's longest wave also run daily from town. The activities appeal to different interests—a kayak tour or surf lessons. As a family, you can consider which of these water experiences best suits your shared interests, without treating them as the same as a general beach visit.
Cooloola and the Coloured Sands
The landscapes of Cooloola National Park are accessible from Rainbow Beach. The Coloured Sands lie about two kilometres south of Rainbow Beach. They comprise a complex arrangement of 72 shades of sand. This precise variety gives the natural area a distinctive character and offers another reason to explore Rainbow Beach beyond its beach and water activities. The Coloured Sands add a unique natural attraction to the walking trails and access to the national park landscapes. The distance is approximate: the Coloured Sands lie about two kilometres south of town.
Rainbow Beach is accessible by two-wheel-drive vehicles. Together with its location on the Great Beach Drive, this offers further guidance on getting there and finding your bearings.
More destinations: Moura, Mount Ommaney, Bramston Beach, Toogoom, Tully, Rockhampton, Kenilworth, Mount Coolum.
For the broader travel overview: Queensland.
