Agnes Water is behind us and a relaxed 4-hour drive to Rainbow Beach lies ahead of us. We make our way further and further south, the tropics become less and less and the dry forest and bush landscapes become more and more.
A small, colorful beach village
We arrive at Rainbow Beach and can only breathe a sigh of relief. The evening atmosphere is relaxed, the sky is a beautiful orange from the setting sun and the people are happy and cheerful after a sunny day at the beach.
After checking into our apartment (Rainbow Getaway Holiday Apartments), we went to the beach for a quick sunset dip in the sea and, of course, took a look at the famous Rainbow Stairs. Afterwards, we went to the surf club for dinner.
Rainbow Beach is also known for its high sand dunes. Many people bring their old boogie boards or surfboards here and slide down the dunes on them. I would love to do that too, even if I often end up with my head in the sand. The Carlo Sand Blow spot is also located in the dunes. From here you have a fantastic view of the famous rocks towards Double Island Point, the village of Rainbow Beach and across the ocean. This spot is definitely still on my bucket list.
BOXIO CHAIR I ultralight camping chair
The starting point for many adventures
Rainbow Beach is probably best known as the starting point for the crossing to Fraser Island or as the beach access to Double Island Point. If we look at the map, you can see Fraser Island to the north and Double Island Point to the south of Rainbow Beach. For both destinations you will definitely need a four-wheel drive vehicle with enough ground clearance. But if you want a destination that is much easier to reach and for which you don't necessarily need four-wheel drive, then Inskip Point and the Peninsula are just right for you! Let's take a closer look.
Inskip Peninsula
Inskip Peninsula is just 15 minutes away by car. There are various camping spots here for little money. I can still remember camping here 5 years ago with my van (without four-wheel drive). You are practically right on the beach and if you camp on the west side, you usually have calm waters and can watch the sunset in the evening. The area is also particularly suitable for anglers. The ferry to K'Gari also departs from Inskip Point, so it's also a good place to spend the night before catching the first ferry in the morning.
BOXIO SANITARY PLUS | Mobile bathroom with TENT
Double Island Point (DI)
Double Island Point is great. You can easily take a day trip here or spend a whole week. You can access it either from Rainbow Beach or from Noosa, from where you can take the ferry to Cooloola and then reach the point from the south.
Regardless of which side you come from, you should always bear the following things in mind.
Be well prepared for your four-wheel drive adventure
Logically, this means that you will definitely need a four-wheel drive car. To reduce the tire pressure, you will also need an appropriate tool (available from SuperCheap). You don't necessarily need a compressor to re-inflate the tires afterwards, as the nearest petrol station is not far away. If you get stuck, a tow rope and MaxxTraxx are also useful. Make sure your car has a full tank of gas (fuel consumption on the beach is significantly higher than normal). Oh yes, and if you want to stay overnight, you'll need a camping toilet. The Boxio is perfect for this. Compact, simple and stylish!
Make sure you get the right permit
If you're only planning to come for one day, then a day permit is enough for you. However, if you are planning to stay overnight, you will also need to buy a camping pass. You can easily doboth online in advance at https://book.parks.qld.gov.au/. Remember to pick up the correct tags from the ranger office, fill them in with your details and attach them to your car in a visible place. There is a QPWS Information Center in both Noosa and Rainbow Beach where you can complete all the necessary formalities.
Find out about the tides
Driving on the beach can quickly become tricky and should therefore not be underestimated. Find out about the tides in advance and if you have no experience, only go from 4 hours before low tide to 4 hours after low tide. At high tide, Double Island Point is surrounded by water and the route back to Rainbow Beach is also impassable. So plan ahead, as an internet connection is also not guaranteed at the point!
Everything taken care of? Then let's go!
The drive to the Point is great fun. You simply drive along the beach, right next to the water's edge and it's such a great feeling. Once you arrive at the point, it's time to set up camp. Be respectful of nature and other people and take all your garbage back with you.
If you're lucky, there's even a nice right-hand wave at the point. Perfect for longboards and also great for shortboards on big cyclone days. Simply a dream. If you're coming from Rainbow Beach, you can take the Leisha Track to Cooloola Beach and ride to the northern end. From here, there is a really cool short hike up the rocks to the Leute Tower. I've always been able to spot turtles and sometimes even dolphins and whales from there. And the waves can get really good here too.
So you see, there's a lot to discover and it definitely doesn't get boring.
K'Gari (formerly Fraser Island)
And to end the blog with a good teaser, I'll get you excited about K'Gari. K'Gari is the largest sand island in the world and it is simply breathtaking. From tropical forests, to turquoise blue to olive green lakes, to white sandy beaches with crystal clear water... The island really lacks nothing. But as there is so much to discover here, we will discuss this in the next blog.
Stay tuned and take care!
Thanks for reading and cheers!
Jesko
