Whilst this is a peaceful and secluded location that does mean that there isn’t anything within less than 3.5km walking distance, however there are plenty of options in the nearby township of Rainbow Beach if you don’t want to stick to using on site facilities.

Arcobaleno On The Beach is a great little Italian restaurant serving up superb pizzas and pastas and a wide range of beverages. Make sure to save room for dessert and enjoy one of the homemade cakes or biscuits. You can’t beat the outdoor balcony at the Rainbow Beach Surf Lifesaving Club when it comes to a beverage with a view, however for a counter meal we prefer the Rainbow Beach Hotel which is just a short walk away from the SLSC. This is a classic pub with plenty of outdoor space serving up all the usual suspects, but we are particularly fans of the various steak options cooked over the grill. There’s also a fantastic kids menu. Frying Fish Cafe is our pick of the local takeaway spots, it’s very popular so be sure to call ahead and order in the busier times of the year to avoid waiting.

Rainbow Beach is known for its breathtaking coloured sands and its close location to K'gari (Fraser Island), both of which should be at the top of your to-do list when visiting this area. Wandering along Rainbow Beach itself is the best way to take in the “Coloured Sands” effect where you’ll see 72 different colours of natural sands etched into the cliffs that the beach sits on. This is an area of rich indigenous history and we highly recommend looking into the aboriginal dreamtime legend behind the rainbow sands before visiting. 

If you’re not travelling with your own 4WD we highly recommend joining a tour with the team from Fraser Explorer Tours to explore K’Gari. Their day tour departing from Rainbow Beach will take you through the highlights of K’Gari including Lake McKenzie, World Heritage-listed rainforest, 75 Mile Beach, Eli Creek and the historic Maheno Shipwreck. Ferry transfers and lunch at K’Gari Beach Resort are also included in the ticket price. 

If you’ve got additional time beyond these two visits, head south from Rainbow Beach and about 10 minutes drive away you’ll find Poona Lake. This beautiful body of water spans 12 hectares and is surrounded by rainforest. To access it, you’ll need to drive to the Bymien Picnic Area and then walk through the forest on a path approximately 2.1 km. Whilst you’ll work up a sweat, a plunge in the icy cold lake will have you feeling refreshed in no time.

The park is located at Carlo Point, a secluded spot roughly 4km away from the town of Rainbow Beach. There’s a reasonably well stocked kiosk on site, but we’d suggest you come with your provisions if you’re not wanting to hop in the car during your stay.