A local's guide to the hidden paradise of Rainbow Beach

You’re probably starting out in Noosa, so savour a farm-to-fork breakfast and steaming hot cup of coffee at beachfront Bistro C before making your way to the vehicle ferry in Tewantin.

It takes a mere five minutes to reach Noosa’s North Shore, but believe it or not, once you access the beach on the other side, there’s no cafe in sight for 100kms or more. Hardly a drawback though; this just proves how pristine this part of the land really is.

Pack a picnic that can be enjoyed later at one of the many beautiful locations along the way from Noosa up to Rainbow (Belmondos Fresh Food Market in Noosa is a great place to stock up before you go).

It’s a stunning drive and there’s much to explore, so don’t rush it.

Pull over at Double Island Point, a popular day-trip destination for Sunshine Coast locals that’s accessible only by 4WD. Roll out that picnic blanket and soak up some sunshine then walk off your meal with a stroll to the headland to enjoy an incredible 360-degree view.

Once you reach Rainbow Beach you’ll be starting to think about dinner. Arcobaleno On The Beach is a local's favourite. Relax in the Italian restaurant's courtyard and let the staff help you decide between their crispy wood-fired pizzas and delicious pasta.

Another must while in town is Brent’s Burgers. Long-time local’s Brent and Alexandra Klekar know how to generously load up a burger bun. Don’t forget to add their famous sidewinder chips to your order.

For great vibes head to The Deck @ Sea Salt. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, head there at dusk and snag a seat on the rooftop deck. Here you can feast of plates of fresh oysters, buckets of prawns and bug rolls while watching the sun set. 

When the craving for fish and chips hits - as you know it will - go to Ocean Breeze Seafoods. It sells only locally-caught seafood; straight from the trawlers at Tin Can Bay. 

Drink

The township of Rainbow Beach has many distinctive features but perhaps its most endearing characteristic is that it revolves around one main street and at the end of that street, is the ocean. That might explain why the majority of this close-knit community ends up at the Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Like any great surf club, it lures the locals with its spectacular views and warm, inviting atmosphere, plus a cracking food menu. 

If it’s good coffee you’re after, grab a cup of Maroochydoore’s Vincenza Coffee at Somewhere Over Coffee or a tasty iced latte from Little Parliament. Tip: their corn fritters and 'ugly breakfast burger' are worth coming back for at breakfast time. 

Stay

Rainbow Beach offers a diverse range of accommodation options for all kinds of visitors, from camping and holiday houses to resorts and apartments.

Rainbow Ocean Palms Resort is positioned on the edge of Great Sandy National Park, with beautiful forest running alongside it. The luxury eco-certified apartments are perched atop a hill, granting unparalleled, panoramic views of the beach and sea. There’s a great sense of peace and tranquillity here as it’s removed from the rest of ‘town life’. It’s also the perfect choice for nature lovers and bird watchers who want direct access to bushwalks and birdlife.

If you want to feel even closer to nature, the camping options in Rainbow Beach put you right under the stars. Rainbow Beach Holiday Park has camping sites and cabins beside an inlet of the Great Sandy Strait.

If you’re travelling without your own equipment, Ultimate Camping can hook you up with a tent, cooking equipment and your own private toilet and shower by the beach in the Inskip Peninsula (they pitch and pack up everything for you!). The only thing you need to do is pre-arrange your camping permit.

Have your own equipment? Here’s what you need to know about camping on Rainbow Beach and K'gari.

Play

A visit to the Carlo Sand Blow is another must for everyone staying at Rainbow Beach. This iconic sand mass provides great views of the coloured sands, Double Island Lighthouse and Inskip Peninsula. A popular spot amongst locals for a picnic, head here at sunrise or sunset to capture amazing photographs.

While Rainbow Beach is a 4WD paradise, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it if you don’t have the right wheels. Head out on a day trip with Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours to tick off all the off-road must-see spots, like Double Island Point Lighthouse (they’re the only ones who are allowed to drive up there – everyone else has to walk up), Honeymoon Bay for a secluded lagoon swim, Rainbow Beach, where you’ll experience one of their unique interactive coloured sand presentations, and Carlo Sand Blow.

Your other option is to hire a 4WD from Rainbow Beach 4x4 Hire. You’ll get a comprehensive lesson on how to drive on sand, along with advice on tides. You can also take their vehicles over to K'gari (Fraser Island).

Eco-conscious adventurers can swap four wheels for a horse and gallop along Rainbow Beach with Rainbow Beach Horse Riding. All riding experience levels can be catered to and you can choose between a beach ride, country ride – even a full moon ride!

If you want to explore more of Great Sandy National Park, make Seary’s Creek your final resting point. The creek is beautifully clear, with subtle orange, tea-tree tannins. You can float or play in the water, read a book in the shade, or stroll along the picturesque boardwalk.

Serious hikers with five days up their sleeve should tackle the challenging yet rewarding Cooloola Great Walk, which takes you along coastal tracks, rainforest, everglades and high dunes.

From Rainbow Beach, you’re in prime position to explore the world’s largest sand island – K'gari. There are many great day tours on offer with Kingfisher Bay Resort, such as an adventurous 4WD excursion up the beach to Inskip Point where you’ll board a barge and cross over to the iconic island. Once over there, spend the afternoon walking through cool, towering rainforest, swimming in freshwater lakes or watching dingoes explore their native habitat.

When to visit Rainbow Beach

When you hear the word ‘beach’ or ‘coast’ you might immediately conjure up thoughts of summer. And yet, winter is an ideal time to explore Noosa and Rainbow Beach and do the Great Beach Drive. Not only because temperatures are more forgiving but humpback whales are also on their annual holiday, making their migration along the coast and you might see them jumping and playing offshore along the way.

Got some extra time? Here’s how to do the Great Beach Drive road trip in five days.

Getting there

If you want to point your GPS straight for Rainbow Beach, it’s about 2.5 hours drive north of Brisbane Airport. From Brisbane, follow the Bruce Highway north and keep your eye out for a right-hand turn once you reach Gympie.

The more scenic option is to take a vehicle ferry from Tewantin in Noosa which will carry you across the Noosa river and from there, you can 4WD up the beach. Note that this drive is sand only. It calls for the tyres to be let down, and a low-tide departure. New to driving on the beach? Check out these beach driving tips before you go.

Coming from the north? Follow this Bundaberg to Rainbow Beach guide.