Rainbow Beach, part of the Sunshine Coast, is a great addition to any East Coast Australia itinerary. You’ve got enormous sand cliffs, quiet beaches, and great coastal views. Plus it’s the main gateway to Fraser Island, making it a perfect stop before or after your island adventure. It’s also known for its outdoor activities, from kayaking and dolphin spotting to scenic hikes. There’s so much to see and do here, so have a browse of our Rainbow Beach tours and find what suits your trip.
Day trips can be fun and perfect if you are on a tight schedule. However, an overnight trip is what most backpackers traveling along the East Coast of Australia will pick. Overnight trips include all your food, activities, and accommodation, so are great value for money. Since Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, an overnight trip is recommended to see all the highlights of the island.
We recommend booking your overnight Rainbow Beach tour about one month in advance. This is because these trips fill up quickly due to their popularity. During peak season some Fraser Island tours, can get fully booked up to two months in advance.
The best time of year to go on a Rainbow Beach tour is September to November. This is considered peak season, as it generally has dry, sunny weather. However, June to August is also a great time of year to go as you have a chance to spot humpback whales.
We recommend spending 5 days at Rainbow Beach, so that you can spend 3 day on Fraser Island with a day either side. That will allow you to see all the highlights on Fraser Island like Lake McKenzie and visit Carlo Sand Blow.
Whilst on a Fraser Island tour, you can try out driving a 4WD through the sand on 75 mile beach. You can swim in the freshwater lakes and float down creeks in floating devices. Some tours also offer an additional extra of a scenic flight over the island.
To get too Rainbow Beach, you can go by driving yourself or by the Greyhound bus.
Majority of tours will involve camping on the island, these are pre-made camp sites and will include all your camping equipment. Some tours offer beach huts which are a bit more luxurious.