Wood-fired pizza at the beach - Arcobaleno

Tucked behind the Rainbow Beach hotel in a peaceful courtyard, you will find Arcobaleno Italian restaurant serving delicious wood fired pizza.   We have been eating out at Arcobaleno for several years under the current and former management and have always enjoyed friendly service and great food. 
 

Pancakes and coffee after a lovely walk along the beach towards the Coloured Sands.

The open courtyard means that our little dog can also join us after the walk on the beach.

Find Arcobaleno Rainbow Beach on Facebook

Why did the sink hole happen at Rainbow Beach?

Sink hole north of Rainbow Beach.  Image source: www.abc.net.au Facebook: Kieren Hudson

It might be time to experience camping at Inskip Point before it disappears.   Inskip Peninsula is an isthmus of sand that once connected Fraser Island with the mainland, but is now separated and is just a thin strip of sand sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Tin Can Bay.

Inskip is one of the most popular camping spots in South East Queensland hosting thousands of campers during school holidays.  It lies across a small channel of water from the southern tip of Fraser Island at the entrance to Tin Can Bay, 10 minutes drive north of Queensland's Rainbow Beach.  Most people travelling to Fraser Island drive from Rainbow Beach north along the peninsula to Inskip point, from where they catch a barge across to the southern tip of Fraser Island.

Around 11pm on Saturday, 26 September, a car, a caravan and a camping trailer were swallowed by a giant sinkhole that opened up at the Inskip Point camping ground.  Thankfully no people were injured.  Police estimated the hole to be about 100 metres by 100 metres and around three metres deep.

The last sink hole occurred in 2011 a little further north of this one at the MV Beagle campsite, which is about half way up the peninsula.  There are plenty of opinions about why the sink hole happened at Rainbow Beach.  However, it is actually one of many that have occurred over the years and which will continue to happen.

On the Clayton's Towing Facebook page, Debbie Campbell Myers posted this excerpt from The Brisbane Courier of 3 July 1901

LANDSLIP AT INSKIP The harbour-master at Maryborough (Captain Boult) has Informed the Port master that the coxswain at Inskip had advised him that a land-slip has occurred there, by which a truck and part of the boat tram gear was lost, but the boats and a spare bar buoy were saved with difficulty. The beacon and light-stand near the boatshed are liable to go at any time. There is now 14ft. of water near the beacon, and the next spring tides will show whether any more trouble may be expected.

Back in 2011, the Brisbane Times reported this opinion as to why the sink hole happened at Rainbow Beach:

Canberra-based landslide and disaster risk management scientist Dr Marion Leiba said the dramatic sinkhole-like conditions were likely caused by an “eddy” or “loop” current creating turbulence in the water and destabilising sand.

``Sand is permeable which means the water gets in to it and when you get enough water pressure, it holds the grains apart and it turns in to quicksand,'' she said.

``It loses cohesion and it just sort of collapses down.  It's just sort of sucked down in to the bottom of the water."

 View of Inskip looking south to Rainbow Beach - showing point where barges depart to Fraser Island (Double Island Point in the very far distance).  Given the Pacific Ocean is crashing into one side, there is no surprise that the peninsula is slowly subsiding into the ocean.  Image source: http://4wdaction.com.au

Image source:  http://indicatorloops.com/inskip.htm

The Wide Bay Bar at the entrance to the channel between Fraser and Inskip is notoriously treacherous.   If you love history, check out this fabulous recounting of the history of the Inskip Point Light and Signal Station.  

This film was recorded in 2005, moments earlier they were a number of 4X4 parked in this section of beach with guys fishing near by.   These sink holes appear every now and again along Inskip Beach near where the ferrys cross between Inskip Point and Fraser Island.

 

Dog friendly accommodation Rainbow Beach

Scribbly Gums beach house accommodation at Rainbow Beach welcomes your dog to stay.  The back garden and deck area is fenced.  Dogs are not allowed inside the house, but can sleep in the laundry or garage.

There is lots of fun for dogs and their people down on the beach - just be careful of the waves coming in when you are climbing around the rocks at high tide!

Please note the terms and conditions that apply for dogs including an additional cleaning fee. You can find out more information on the holiday letting agent's website.

Dog friendly accommodation at Rainbow Beach.  Beautiful morning walks along Rainbow Beach.

Carlo Sand Blow

We never tire of taking new people to explore all corners of Carlo Sand Blow. The wind rushing up from the ocean over the expanse of sand blows away all other thoughts. From the striking beauty of the coloured sand cliff edge to sand tobaganning, sand dune sprints and admiring the coastal vegetation.

Carlo Sand Blow is accessed from the top of Cooloola Drive.  From the car park is a moderate 10 minute walk that is easily accomplished by young children.  Once at the sand blow you can spend a brief time admiring the view from the platform or spend hours wandering the extremes -- to the back end where the sand is creeping towards the houses in Rainbow Beach, to the cliffs on the ocean side and up the sides!

Horse rides back at Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach Horse Rides is owned and operated by Andrew and Kirsty McCarthy, along with their two children Courtney and Zac.  They own high quality horses that are as experienced mustering under helicopters as they are walking along the beach.  The quality and standard of these horses is second to none in this industry.

Rainbow Beach Horse Rides is located approximately three hours drive North of Brisbane, which is the capital city of Queensland in Australia.  It is one of the best beach horse riding experiences in Australia along with Tassiriki Ranch Beach Horse Riding in Northern New South Wales.  It is an incredibly spectacular ocean beach nestled in the lee of the World Heritage listed Fraser Island and the Famous Coloured Sands of Rainbow Beach. It is truly a spectacular natures wonderland.

Raimbow Beach horse rides offers a range of different rides to suit every preference and riding ability.
The standard ride is a 1 1/2 hour horse riding adventure along Rainbow Beach, the cost of which is $80.  They personalise rides for families to allow children to participate safely.   They also offer a day ride with lunch at the popular 'Silky Oak Tea Gardens' where you literally step off your horse and enjoy relaxed dining and absorb the ambience of this wonderful relaxed dining location.

Check out their Facebook page that has lots of photos of recent rides.

Searys Creek, Rainbow Beach

During April 2012, we visited Searys Creek, a beautiful freshwater creek in the Great Sandy National Park near Rainbow Beach, Queensland. 

The kids adore the adventure of swimming along this bush creek with a white sandy bottom - even with the eels!  Our tip is to arrive early and you will often find yourselves the only people there.  The water is always "crisp" but on a hot Summer's day it is divine.

At Searys Creek you can enjoy a little piece of what Fraser Island is famous for...without leaving the mainland.  The water is fresh and clean ... the reddish colour of the water is due to tannin from the tea tree leaves.

You can even discover the remants of an old wooden bridge - we assume from when this was the main road into town for loggers?

Winter bliss at Rainbow Beach

Late afternoon in front of the lifesaving flags looking towards Inskip Point. Still people on the beach enjoying the last of the sun's warmth.

We're experiencing the most glorious sunny weather in Rainbow Beach for the June-July school holidays.   To make this idyllic place even more perfect, it is very quiet.  It appears the crowds have decided to stay home and sadly they are missing out!  

Winter is a lovely time to visit Rainbow Beach.  On the beach it is warm enough to wear togs (swimmers) and shorts.  OK, the water is a little chilly, but the kids don't seem to notice.  Some are wearing wetsuits, but many aren't.   The beach is beautiful for lazing like a lizard soaking up the warm sun, reading a book or building sand castles and beach cricket.

We have enjoyed azure-blue skies, warm sunshine and little wind almost all day, everyday.  Even when the wind gets up, we can find a beach that is sheltered from the prevailing wind.

One of the most memorable features of this area are its striking colours - nature has perfected its palette in Rainbow.  Sand cliffs of many colours from bright white to yellow and blood ochre, capped with dark green Banksia forest before a rich blue sky arcs endlessly above. 

And of course, it is the best time of the year for bush walking.  The sand expanse of Carlo Sand Blow has been magnificent and the temperature perfect for an explore all around its extremes.  We have joined many backpackers and other visitors to watch the fiery sunsets over the waters of Tin Can Bay inlet.  Today, below the coloured sand cliffs we met a group who had walked from Freshwater where they had camped for the night.  They said it would take about six hours to walk from Freshwater, north along Teewah Beach to Double Island Point and then along the glorious sweeping Rainbow Beach to the township.

Daytime temperatures in Rainbow Beach have been about 20 - 22 degrees Celsius.

Rainbow Beach lifesavers

Rainbow Beach surf lifesavers patrol the beach in front of the surf tower on weekends from September to April and all week during school holidays.  Always swim between the flags for your safety!  No cars are allowed to drive through the the safe swimming area.

Rainbow Beach is a 23 km long, curving beach located in Wide Bay, stretching between Inskip Point (which is opposite the southern tip of Fraser Island) and Double Island Point. The open bay faces north-east and the beaches in the bay face variously north, east and north-east as they swing around between the two points.

Beach craft | Pandanus People

The Pandanus palm is one of the iconic plants of the Sunshine Coast.  Around Rainbow Beach, Pandanus palms cling to perilious positions along the ever changing sand dunes.
Our beach craft Pandanus people were made from the phalanges of the large fruit, bleached by the ocean and washed up onto the beach.  At some stage a worm or insect has bored holes through the flesh -- often in incredibly fortuitous positions!   We could not believe how easily they looked like funny little people.

We added some creative touches to turn the stringy fibres into arms, skirt and even plaited hair.  The outer case of the Pandanus phalanges is so fibrous it is even used as a natural dental floss.

To finish our beach craft, we glued the Pandanus onto a cork board.

More about Pandanus tectorius

Pandanus plams found on the Sunshine Coast have a large orange fruit made up 40 to 200 wedge-like phalanges.  The Phalanges contain the seeds, can remain viable for many months while being washed around the ocean currents.



The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is a major source of food on some island nations. The tree's leaves are often used as flavoring for sweet dishes (you might have seen Pandanus often featured in Alvin's dishes on MasterChef . The leaves are used by Polynesians to make baskets, mats, outrigger canoe sails, thatch roofs and grass skirts.

Jamella leafhopper dieback
The Jamella leafhopper has been responsible for the dieback and death of many Pandanus along the Cooloola coastline but has so far not been noted on Fraser Island.  The leaf hopper can be controlled with pesticides, but needs constant vigilance. 

Sand city and driftwood aliens

Winter at the beach is beautiful in its own blustery, bracing way.  It's a chance to appreciate the rich colours of nature not washed out by a harsh sun.  It's fun to walk along the beach rugged up against the chill and not bake in the heat.  Then it's home to a lovely warm shower, cup of tea and game of Monopoly.  Happily, we also had days that were warm enough to swim and lay on the beach in our togs (swimmers for non-Queenslanders!).

These images were captured by the children on an afternoon beach walk.  They were fascinated by the "sand city" - like a distant view of city skyscrapers.

Rainbow Beach has loads of driftwood washed up against the rocks.  The sandscape along the beach changes so often that it appears and disappears daily.   We love exploring the distorted, weathered shapes and discovering alien creatures.

And capturing bleached white driftwood against the black coffee rock.