Rainbow Beach is one of my favourite beaches along the East Coast of Australia; it is in the Wide Bay region of Queensland, Australia. The water is clean and clear – so clear you can see the fish swimming around your feet, tickling your toes! It’s a great beach for both swimming or surfing and it never seems to get too crowded. There is ample space to stretch out your towel and pitch a windbreak if you so wish, for some protection from the hot sun.
Dogs are allowed on certain sections of the beach which is a bonus for dog owners, as we know how much most dogs love to jump about in the surf to catch a stick or a ball!
The beach is made up of fine, almost white sand which is so fine, when you walk on it, it squeaks under your feet!
However, it wasn’t always known by this pretty name – this beach was home to a large sand mining industry until 1976, and was known as Back Beach. The current name comes from the unusual rainbow coloured sand cliffs – and they really are all the colours of the rainbow!
So giving it the name of Rainbow Beach seemed very fitting!
Rainbow Beach, Qld
In an Aboriginal legend the cliffs were coloured when Yiningie (the spirit of the Gods representing Rainbow) was killed in a fight, spreading his ‘colourful’ spirits across the cliffs.
There are walking treks round the area, but if you like a bit more action, there is hang gliding, paragliding or scenic flights – a truly unforgettable experience.
Like to fish? The area is renowned for great fishing. In fact, Four Wheel Drives are allowed right on the beach!
Slightly to the north of Rainbow Beach at Inskip Point, you can catch a ferry over to the world famous Fraser Island – the largest sand island in the world. It is said that this is the only place now where there are any pure-bred dingoes left. A word of warning though – please do not feed the dingoes!
This is truly an awesome spot with plenty of activities to keep everyone happy, and if you ever get the chance, you should put it on your list of places to visit!
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Hi Barb
Even though it is only a couple of hours drive away, we have never been there. We’ll have to set a date and we’ll pick you up on the way and spend a day there. How does that sound?
Hi Angela – you found me! Rainbow beach is a really beautiful spot. Set a date and pick us up on the way down – sounds good to me! Don’t forget the sunscreen!!
My two Labs have drooled all over my laptop, longing for that beach and a place to romp in the surf. Now you’ve done it!
Great descriptions and photos!
-Jan in (cough) the colder northern hinterlands
Hi Jan, thanks for stopping by! Your labs would go crazy when they saw the beach stretch out in front of them – all that space for running – wow! They would be jumping in and out of the surf, loving it!
What a lovely place. Idyllic. And the prose enhanced the appeal of the photo. Thanks for posting. I’ll be daydreaming about Rainbow Beach today!
Thanks Cecelia! It is a beautiful place. Nice to see a new face on my blog, thanks for stopping by.
What a terrific spot to get creative… Lucky you! Bring back some photos and send us some sunshine. 8)
Eliz
It’s on my doorstep, I live here (in Australia)! I can send you LOTS of sunshine!
What a terrific spot to get creative… Lucky you! Bring back some photos and send us some sunshine. 8)
Eluz
Hey Barb…I changed my url? It’s wheninthecountry.com I don’t know why, I thought I was doing something wrong with the url links? I greatly appologize if it’s messed you up? I’m at my witts end trying to figure this stuff out! Sorry:-(
Not a worry Stephanie – I added you to my Blogroll!
must be a paradise for dogs and hanggliders and surfers …
It sure is – and far enough off the beaten track not to get too crowded!
Yeah, there’s a lot to be said for living near the beach; I couldn’t think of living too far inland myself, we’ve always lived on the coast (even in England). The only time we didn’t was when we lived in Florida – Daytona was our nearest beach and that was a 2 hour drive away!
That’s one thing I miss about Florida, is all the beaches! Your beach looks perfect! We had one beach called Huganot(?)and you could drive on all parts of it, with dogs, etc… It was nitorious, though, for people going out to far, when it was low tide, and actually getting their vehicles caught with no way out! Great picture!
It looks beautiful Barb. I love the story behind the name. Definitely a place to put on my must visit list if I ever make to Australia.
It’s more beautiful than it looks Shell – you can see all the coloured minerals in the sand on the cliffs!
I love finding out the history of things, especially Aboriginal culture, it fascinates me!
Looks gorgeous, you lucky lady!
Thanks Vix – we are spoiled for choice here!
Yes we do love our buet beaches in Queensland…we know we are spoiled, and never take them for granted ,after living in the Uk most of our live’s…its a dream.
Thanks again Barbs another good post.
Paul
I would love to go there. Beautiful! Thanks for the interesting post, Barb.
Glad to hear you found it interesting adee! We are spoiled here for beaches!
I wish we were close to a beach; our dogs loved it when we took them to Wales last year. Doesn’t compare to yours though – stunning!
Yeah, dogs seem to love the freedom of running on the beach, don’t they?
Sounds like Heaven!
It is a little piece of heaven!
Beautiful beach.
I always worry about sunbathing on a beach that allows both dogs and four wheelers . . . you never know who will run over you first.
I know what you mean – that’s why dogs are only allowed on a certain section of the beach.
I never sunbathe on any beach – Australia has the highest incidence of sun cancer in the world – and Queensland is the worst state (that’s where I am!) I keep myself well covered and don’t stay out too long.
What a place!!! That’s like paradise !
So interesting to read also a little bit of history about it! Very, very nice reading, and it sure adds to ones wish to go to Australia!
I love history Rebekah, and am very interested in Aboriginal culture; I’m doing some research into that at the moment.
Barb, the comment from “lackingfunds” is actually from me – I didn’t realize we were logged in under my daughter’s account! Sorry about that!
Haha – I wondered who that was! No worries but I think you will have to post the comment again under your own name because it has a red cross through “lackingfunds” in my Dashboard comments!
Oops! It’s ok – the comment has appeared here anyway!
WOW this beach sounds amazing!! I’d love to visit a beach where the water is clear and the fish actually swim right around your feet! You’re so fortunate to live near this incredible place. I also love hearing about the Aboriginal legend – so interesting!