Where To Stay In Rainbow Beach

Set just back from the water but still within walking distance of the town centre and beach, Rainbow Beach Holiday Park is your go-to for a laid-back coastal escape. The park sits on spacious, landscaped grounds and offers a variety of accommodation types to suit every traveller — from grassy unpowered sites for campers to deluxe cabins and self-contained villas.

Families love the park’s safe and welcoming atmosphere, with plenty of room for the kids to roam, while couples appreciate the peaceful setting as a base for exploring the natural wonders nearby. Dogs are welcome on sites, and there’s a handy camp kitchen, laundry, and clean amenities blocks to make your stay extra convenient.

Where To Eat & Drink In Rainbow Beach

Coffee / Cafe

Our first stop for the day is Somewhere Over Coffee. This place feels like your neighbourhood cafe, remembering our names by the end of our trip. Their coffee is consistently spot on (smooth, strong, no fuss), and we’re slightly addicted to their breakfast burritos. On our last visit, we sat outside in the morning sun with a flat white and watched the sleepy town come to life. Whether you’re vegan, veggie or gluten-free, they’ve got plenty of options — the tofu scramble is excellent.

Casual Lunch

If you’re after lunch that ticks all the seaside boxes — crisp chips, battered local fish, maybe a burger or two — then The Frying Fish Café is your answer. Portion sizes are generous (we shared a basket) and despite it being no-frills, you’ll be glad you stopped by. Grab takeaway and eat down by the water. Salty air, crumbed calamari and an iced cold drink in hand. It doesn’t get much more coastal holiday than that.

Local Pub Meal

Dinner in town normally means the Rainbow Beach Hotel for us. While we love grabbing a drink with a view over the water at the Surf Life Saving Club, we find that the food is better at the Rainbow Beach Hotel. The counter meals are great and the atmosphere is sublime with large ceiling fans and cold beers offering relief from the heat. Set yourself up on the verandah if there’s live music on and go for a steak or the fish-of-the-day. There’s a kids menu too if you’ve got the little ones with you.

What To Do In Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach is more than a gateway to Fraser Island. This coastal town and its surrounding natural spectacles are destinations in their own right.

Walk the coloured sands and cliffs

The Coloured Sands are located 2km south of the Rainbow Beach Surf Club. You can visit the multicoloured cliff face via 4WD, horseback, or a leisurely beach stroll. These dramatic cliffs are continuously eroded by wind and rain, exposing layers of sand in deep ochres, burnt rust, golden yellows and pale creams. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a photographer, you’ll observe how the light changes the tone of the cliffs.

Climb Carlo Sand Blow

Another favourite is Carlo Sand Blow,  a vast, undulating dune mass that feels almost otherworldly. From the top you get sweeping views across Rainbow Beach to the ocean, Double Island Point and, on a clear day, parts of Fraser Island (K’gari).

Dolphin Watching

A favourite experience of ours was seeing dolphins in the wild. Rainbow Beach delivers on this. We joined a kayak tour through Rainbow Beach Kayak Tours and Surf Safaris. Then we launched our kayaks around Double Island Point and glided along, watching dolphins, the occasional turtle, rays, and sea birds. The guides were excellent, knowing where the dolphins were and educating us along the way.

Fishing Charters

There’s some great fishing in the surrounding area. You will encounter species such as Snapper, Pearl Perch, Red Emperor, Sweetlip, Cobia, Parrot Fish, and of course, seasonal species such as Mackerel, Amberjack, Wahoo, and others. Plus, if you visit between May and October, you might be lucky enough to see some humpback whales. We joined the experienced crew at Keely Rose Fishing Charters for a full day of deep sea fishing and were very happy with our haul.

The Essentials in Rainbow Beach

The closest full supermarket is IGA Rainbow Beach, located in the Rainbow Beach Shopping Centre. Head a few hundred metres down Rainbow Beach Road towards the beach and you’ll find a pharmacy. A few doors back up from the pharmacy is Rainbow Beach Fishing and Camping if you’re looking for any gear.

The Drive To Rainbow Beach

As always, we give you the rundown on the drive you’ll take from the nearby major towns and cities.

From Brisbane - About 240 km North, allow 3 hours, depending on rest stops.

From Sydney – About 1,150 km North up the coast. It’s about 12 hours driving all up, so we recommend breaking it up into 2 days. Some top overnight stops to break up the journey: 

Port Macquarie - Beaches, river fishing and lots of modern dining options

Ballina Beach - Less busy than Byron but still with plenty of coastal charm

Image credit: Tourism Australia

ParkBooker Staff Writer

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