Here's how to explore the world-famous natural wonders of Double Island Point

Boasting mile after mile of golden sandy beaches, glistening turquoise waters, and 360-degree views out to the Pacific Ocean, Double Island Point is an achingly photogenic headland within Queensland’s Great Sandy National Park. 

As well as being the perfect base to experience the region’s world-famous natural wonders, Double Island Point punches way above its weight when it comes to beach holidays in Queensland. Surf, sun and sand dunes = check. Start the holiday planning, here’s how to do Double Island Point.

Where is Double Island Point

Just two hours north of Noosa and Sunshine Coast airport, and just south of the tiny township of Rainbow Beach, this idyllic coastal headland rubs shoulders with a handful of very famous natural Queensland landmarks. Rainbow Beach, Cooloolah Great Walk, Carlo Sand Blow and K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) all call this slice of heaven home.

Part of the Cooloola Recreation Area ‘green belt’ at the southern end of the Wide Bay Burnett region, Double Island Point claims bragging rights to cinematic Pacific Ocean views as well as unrivalled access to the lush eucalypt forests lapping the ocean’s edge.

D.I, as the locals call it, feels a million miles away from the grind of daily life without feeling completely off grid. Ensconced by Cooloola National Park, Double Island Point is blessed with both golden sandy beaches, calm lagoons, lush rainforest, walking trails and historic landmarks. Even getting to Double Island Point is breathtaking; cruising along some of Queensland’s best 4WD tracks Teewah Beach Road and Cooloolah Beach Drive to get to your destination.

How to get to Double Island Point

A note to anyone wanting in on the action of D.I, a 4WD is NON-NEGOTIABLE. It’s the only way to access many of the area’s natural beauty spots, walking tracks, beaches and camping sites.  Get your 4WD vehicle permit for the Cooloola Recreation Area before departing for Double Island Point; these can be purchased for both day and multi-day trips (a must if staying in the area), with 4WD hire available from Brisbane, Noosa and Rainbow Bay.

If you’re departing from Brisbane, allow approximately four hours – two from Noosa. There are two ways to tackle getting to Double Island Point; inland along the Bruce Highway towards Gympie, following signs to Rainbow Beach which will spit you out a few kms before Freshwater Track (approx. 10km south of D.I) or, via Noosa to catch the ferry crossing at Noosa Northshore.

The latter is completely dependent on tide times – so do your homework before leaving – but the journey is arguably more scenic, and means you’ll drive the entire length of beach from Tewantin to Double Island Point. Simply roll your 4WD off the ferry onto Teewah Beach Road and don’t look back.

Things to do in and around Double Island Point

Double Island Point is the poster girl for Queensland’s quintessential laid-back lifestyle. Spend a lazy day horizontal listening to the sounds of gently crashing waves, explore the area’s walking and 4WD trails, or drop a line and try your hand at beach fishing in the calm waters of Honeymoon Bay; time slows in this part of the world.

And, while D.I. is perfect for those looking to drop it down a gear, there are plenty of things to see and do in and around Double Island Point, no matter the pace you’re used to. Explore the pristine seaway with a kayak tour from Epic Ocean Adventures where you'll float alongside wild bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, turtles and rays. Or take to the waves on one of their surfing lessons that are perfect for beginners through to experienced boarders. 

Hiking enthusiasts of all abilities will want to pack their walking gear, the headland and surrounding region being home to some of SEQ’s most varied and visually stunning trails.

A must-do on any visit to Double Island Point is the Lighthouse Walk. The 2.2km return walk at the headland’s tip is lined by low-lying pandanus and coastal banksias, with breathtaking views out to sea and of K’gari. Explore the historic lighthouse and its surrounding buildings, then pause to spot dolphins, turtles and whales breech the waves below.

Keen to stretch the legs further? The Double Island Point Walk is a full-day’s hike (one way) from Rainbow Beach, taking in sweeping views of the pastel-hued coastline before ending at D.I.’s very own lagoon in Honeymoon Bay for a well-earned dip.

For the ultimate challenge, however, tackle the Cooloola Great Walk. The 102km (one way), five-day hike begins at Noosa North Shore and stretches right up to Rainbow Beach, rewarding hikers with untouched natural terrain, through dense forest, wind-blown headlands, oceanside outposts, even ancient sand dunes. A worthy adversary for any experienced hiker.

It would be criminal not to visit one of Queensland’s best beaches, Rainbow Beach while at Double Island Point. Known for its pristine beach and imposing multicoloured sand dunes, it’s understandably top of visitor's bucket lists when visiting Double Island Point, and has become a family-friendly haven. What’s more, it makes for an easy day trip from D.I and is jam-packed with things to do.

Renowned as one of the best surfing spots north of Noosa, local operators offer surf lessons for all experience levels, as well as kayaking, paragliding, helicopter rides, and horse riding along the ocean’s edge. All bases are well and truly covered.

Experienced divers have been coming to Rainbow Beach for years to experience its famous dive site, Wolf Rock. Comprising of five pinnacles that reach depths of 35m+, this impressive dive site is home to a plethora of marine animals including nurse sharks, leopard sharks, wobbegongs, manta rays, eagle rays, even the elusive bronze whaler shark has been spotted cruising the pinnacle depths.

Rainbow Beach is also home to the magnificent Carlo Sandblow. Walk the five km other-worldly landscape of wind-beaten eucalypt forests and battered sand dunes, and as you reach the crest take in the incredible views of the Inskip Peninsula, K’gari, and Double Island Point Headland. Hot tip: head to Carlo Sandblow at sunset for an otherworldly experience of iridescent hues whilst the sun melts into the horizon.

And, if that’s not enough, take a trip over to the incomparable, World Heritage-Listed K’gari.

4WD at Double Island Point

Make getting from A to B more fun by acquainting yourself with the headland’s abundance of 4WD tracks. Double Island Point has a plethora of trails to explore, stretching along beaches and inland through the dense forests of the headland.

Both Cooloolah Way and Freshwater Road tracks connect the southern section of Cooloola Beach with Rainbow Beach via its 4WD trail, encompassing Freshwater Lake, Poona Lake and one of the main camping areas for Double Island Point. Just beneath Double Island Point’s headland lies Leisha Track, a much shorter 800m track that has access to both Honeymoon Bay and Coloured Sands at Rainbow Beach.

Craving a longer road trip? Tackle even more of Queensland’s iconic coastline by completing the Nature Coast Drive, a 12-day drive encompassing sites from the Sunshine Coast all the way to the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Camping at Double Island Point

Hands down the best way to experience Double Island Point is to camp. While camping is strictly off limits on Double Island Point Headland, there are excellent camp grounds at nearby Freshwater Camp and Kauri Walkers Camp, both inland and accessible via Freshwater Creek Road in the Cooloolah Recreation Area. Head to Teewah Beach camping area for camp sites right along the sand dunes.

For the best advice and info on the ground, the friendly teams at the information centres located in Tewantin and Rainbow Bay will help you with all your camping passes, 4WD trail maps and local area knowledge, but best familiarise yourself with the camping do’s and don’ts with this guide to camping in Queensland’s National Parks.