Rainbow Beach
Located in Queensland, about 155km from our home in Buderim, Rainbow Beach is a beautiful coastal town. It is situated on an area known as the Cooloola Coast, and local to Fraser Island (recently renamed K`Gari). There is a natural beauty to Rainbow Beach. The multicoloured sand dunes exude a spectrum of colouration, ranging from reds and yellows to orange and pinks. Rainbow Beach is also a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike, offering a perfect blend of relaxation and outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting.
Location
155km from Buderim on the Sunshine Coast and 250km from Brisbane, Rainbow Beach offers up picturesque beaches, fishing spots and 4WD for those who desire it. Visitors can hike the Carlo Sand Blow for panoramic views, swim in the clear waters, and explore the nearby Double Island Point for its surfing and wildlife.
Weather
Welcome to Winter in Australia. While the season of winter may instill a sense of foreboding for some of you, let me reassure you that while winter is chilly (to most aussies anyway), if you were a Brit and over here on holiday, I’m willing to put $50 down and say you’d be comfortable. The weather for Rainbow Beach during our trip is estimated to be 18-22 degrees through the day and around 5-7 degrees at night.
Who am I?
The names Hattersley, Joanne Hattersley, and I’m the owner, CEO and general all-rounder for Madhatterpress. The website was built May 2020 so has recently celebrated its 4th birthday!!
Why Rainbow Beach?
In the words of my late mum, “why not!” Dad and I like to take regular short trips away. A long weekend or a Monday to Friday trip. We haven’t been to Rainbow Beach since 2021 and thought it about time we returned. July’s trip was set. Rainbow Beach is close enough to home that we don’t have to worry about a long journey. We can pack the morning we leave and take our time!
Accomodation
Our accomodation is 2/51 Carlo Beach Road, which is about 20 minutes walk from the centre of this coastal gem. It’s a 3-bedroom, 1 bathroom home that has recently been renovated. We arrived an hour early to find our accommodation all ready.
My only criticism is that on some holiday accommodations, this being one of them, is that you need to bring linen, towels, tea towels etc. Now we usually bring towels anyway, but bringing own bed linen drives me nuts! If I’m paying for a holiday rental, I expect a bed to be made, not to have to do it.
Diary of the trip
Tuesday 16th July
Leaving home at 11:15am, it was the Bruce Highway for most of the way. A little past Gympie, it was time to hit the right turn for the 75km across country to the coast. The first part of the Bruce Highway journey was comical as we were entertained by a verbal WhatsApp message from my brother. Twenty-five minutes of hearing about all he’d been doing. Then it was a Spotify ‘Road Trip’ playlist for the rest of the way.
We arrived and checked in to get the keys and linen. We took all our stuff to the rental and then headed out to get some lunch. A trip down to Carlo Point for dad to have ‘therapy’ pressing the shutter of his Canon R5 was on the cards and then the rest of the night was ours. Wine, chocolate and relaxing.
Wednesday 17th July
Day 2 started out with the most important news of the day. It was Game Day for State of Origin Game 3, the decider. If you know me, you’ll know of my love for all things rugby league and everything ‘Origin’. Yes, I’m wearing my Maroons t shirt!! We started off with coffee and breakfast (the breakfast was HUGE – served on a plate the size of a dustbin lid!) at a local café followed by a drive to the beach. We checked out Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point, looking at Dads Photographer’s Ephemeris to capture where sunrise and sunset will be. We came back via Rainbow Beach Social Club so that Dad could try a couple of IPAs.
We had a relaxing afternoon and then went back to Inskip Point to see how it was looking for sunset photography. However, a lack of colour and interest in the sky meant that photography was not warranted. As my dad says, “you know it when you see it” and tonight he didn’t see it.
Thursday 18th July
A day of not rushing. That was the plan today. Sitting at the breakfast table with coffee and toast while catching up on podcasts was the perfect start to the day. We headed out about 1130am and drove to Boonooroo. Then gradually worked our way back towards Rainbow Beach through Poona, Tinnanbar and Tin Can Bay. Tin Can Bay is home to the Snack Shack. It’s not the best fish and chips in the world but it’s not the worst. It certainly has a beautiful view across to the water. When we arrived back at Rainbow Beach, the sun had set, and the evening was ours. A movie and a glass of wine to close out the night
Friday 19th July
Home sweet home today. We were away for 3 days and nights, but it felt shorter than that. A sign of a good trip and good company. The drive home was a couple of hours and then back to reality. Washing, unpacking and food shopping.
Did it tick our boxes
There has never been a trip where Dad and I have left and thought “no, never again.” Every place we’ve been to has something special. Sometimes that something special is simply the ability to relax and switch off from daily life. Rainbow beach is no different. It ticked all the boxes.
My only issue with holiday rentals is those that say, “bring your own linen.” That’s frustrating to me. We always take our own towel and flannel but having to take your own sheets and make your bed when you have paid for the stay……I don’t like that. That’s something I’ll be more conscious of with my next bookings. It means I won’t go back to 2/51Carlo Road again for that reason.
Will we be back
We’ll be back to Rainbow Beach but not to this rental.