If you’re on a trip along the Fraser Coast, Rainbow Beach should be on your list of things to see. This little seaside hamlet is surrounded by the Great Sandy National Park and is renowned for being one of just two locations from which you may go to Fraser Island. Once you’ve arrived in Rainbow Beach, there’s a lot to do – our choice of the finest things to do in Rainbow Beach!
Hire 4 X 4
Discover the lovely Fraser Island your way, from the comfort of your own vehicle with the ultimate 4×4 adventure. Pippies can help with car hire, permits, and camping requirements for any type of trip, whether it’s a family holiday or a couple’s getaway.
Pippies offers a range of Toyota Landcruisers that are all automatic, ensuring that even the greenest driver can participate in this journey. All vehicles are meticulously maintained and come with a safety briefing and driving instruction to ensure their passengers’ safety.
Surfing & Bodyboarding
In Rainbow Beach, Australia’s second-largest beach, you’ll find one of the world’s best surfing locations. Get your daily dose of waves with a morning Surf lesson at the front beach.
Free bodyboarding is available to Pippies Beachhouse guests at a reception on arrival.
Double Island Point
The beach at Lower Shores is backed by a steep cliff offering panoramic views of the sea. The best way to see Double Island Point is via a four-wheel-drive vehicle along the coast. A passageway to so many exciting activities!
It’s a long day trip from Rainbow Beach back. Follow the historic lighthouse telegraph wire along the high seaside dunes, then climb the steep track to the Double Island Point lookout for spectacular views of wildlife, followed by a return journey along the beach with views of the magnificent colored sands on your way back.
Kayak
Experience Mother Nature at her finest by booking a kayak tour. Double Island Point is Rainbow Beach’s hidden gem, and it is only reachable via 4WD or a 2.5-hour walk one way.
Your chances of seeing dolphins on this journey are very high (90%). Humpback whales may be seen throughout the year, particularly between June and November (June – November). Turtles, manta rays, stingrays, soldier crabs in their thousands, and migrating seabirds are all typical sightings on this excursion!
Carlo Sand Blow
The Carlo Sand Blow is a large, natural “moonscape” sand dune that extends over 15 hectares. From Double Island Point to Inskip Peninsula and the southern tip of Fraser Island, with spectacular multicolored sands and the beautiful coastline. It was named after one of Captain Cook’s deckhands. Alternatively, go to the top of Cooloola Drive for a 30-minute walk from Pippies Beachhouse. Take the easy 600-metre nature walk from Cooloola Drive. With enough of sunlight left, explore the tin mining history and visit the spectacular sunrise over Tin Can Bay and the Great Sandy Straits. This is also a must-do while in Rainbow Beach, as it is breathtaking both at sunset and first thing in the morning. The Cooloola Great Walk starts here as well.
Coloured Sands Of Rainbow Beach
South for at least 30 minutes along the beach from the end of the main street to the beginning of the towering sand cliffs will give you stunning views. With a palette ranging from orange, brown, pink, silver, gold, grey-black + more, striking colored sand. One of nature’s outstanding masterpieces with a color palette that ranges from 72 distinct colors.
The Legend of The Coloured Sands
The rainbow-colored sand dunes that encircle the hamlet are said to have been named after the town; according to Kabi folklore, Yiningie, a mythological spirit represented by a rainbow, plunged into the cliffs after fighting an evil tribesman and caused the dunes to be colored.
Swimming
All year, we have two trained lifeguards and a team of enthusiastic volunteers on duty at our beautiful surf beach. For your safety, the flagged area is fenced off, so don’t swim between the flags. Bodyboards are available to use; please enquire at reception.
Poona Lake
A wonderful teal-colored freshwater lake surrounded by a white sandy beach. A lovely day excursion from Pippies Beach House, alternatively a short drive to the Bymien picnic area and 2.2 kilometers of walking to this beautiful perched lake for a cool refreshing swim.)
Seary’s Creek
At Seary’s Creek day rest area on Rainbow Beach Road, seven kilometers south of Rainbow Beach, there are several beautiful swimming spots. The 100-metre wheelchair-accessible timber boardwalk passes through heath and low woodland to a refreshingly chilly crystal clear creek.
Wolf Rock Dive Site
Double Island Point is a beautiful, rocky outcrop with deep waters that is home to the Double Island Rock Marine Reserve. Long been considered one of Australia’s finest dives!
The tranquil waters of the Sunshine Coast are also home to one of the world’s rarest sharks, the Grey Nurse Shark. Summer at Wolf Rock is filled with Leopard (Zebra) Sharks, Wobbegong Sharks, and a lot of White-Spotted Eagle Rays, Marbled Fantail (Bull) Rays, and Pink Whip Rays. All of them have a tendency to put on a spectacular show around the submerged volcanic pinnacles that form part of the dive site.
During the winter, you’re likely to spot a large number of migrating Humpback Whales. (if you’re lucky enough, you might see one underwater) Large swarms of the always magnificent Manta Rays are also present on the site throughout the colder months. Add to that regular sighting of at least three distinct species of sea turtles, as well as huge schools of schooling pelagic fish such as Trevally, Mackerel, Mulloway, and Barracuda.
Hard and soft corals, anemone fish, nudibranchs, octopus, Moray Eels, and sea snakes live in the rock’s crevices. Wolf Rock is widely recognized as one of the finest Shark and Ray diving sites in Australia because of its rich biodiversity.
