Carlo Sand Blow is a very popular spot from which paragliders launch, and Scribbly Gums is under the flight path as they ride the updraft along the sand dunes on their way to land down near the Surf Lifesaving tower. It's pretty special to spot their colourful canopies while eating lunch.
According to Paragliding Rainbow Beach, a paraglider is a lightweight foot-launched glider with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness
suspended below a hollow fabric wing whose shape is formed by its
suspension lines, the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the
wing and the aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside. Paragliders can fly for hundreds of kilometres and many hours. Carlo Sand Blow is one of the top 10 coastal launch sites in the world.
On 16 October, a five-metre-long humpback whale calf became entangled in shark nets just off Rainbow Beach. Thankfully, the whale was freed by Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol's marine animal release team in a five hour operation.
The Gympie Times reported that witnesses on the beach said the mother seemed agitated as the rescuers cut the net from the calf.
The massive humpback breached and tail-slapped the water many times before swimming in a continuous circuit to check on her calf.
These photos tell the story of this amazing mother protecting her baby. Despite the rubber duckie boats and other threats to her safety, the whale stayed guarding her calf.
These gentle giants of the sea are sentient creatures that need our protection. Scientific studies have shown that whales and dolphins demonstrate self-awareness, suffering and a social culture - not deserving of being treated as an animal commodity to be harvested from the sea (source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk)
What a fantastic wrap up of the fun and adventure to be found at Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point ... so good that it may not be the hidden gem we all love much longer!
The video is a great promo for several Rainbow Beach businesses, including Epic Ocean Adventures who run surfing lessons and dolphin view kayak trips off Double Island Point.
On their website, Epic Ocean Adventures says: We know we have the most spectacular uncrowded location in Oz. There
is no better place to learn to surf in Australia. Double Island Point is
a long sandy point break making the easiest and safest wave to learn
on. Because it is only accessed by 4wd this makes it less crowded than
many other locations with plenty of waves for everyone. The boys have
first time surfers getting rides 100’s of meters long.
Double Island Point is remote and relativley untouched making it a
very popular place for many different types of marine life. Don't be too
surprised if Bottlenose dolphins pass you by whilst surfing or a turtle
pops up in the crystal clear sandy shallows for a breath of air.
Dolphin View Kayaking tours are also run at Double Island Point. This
is a special place for wildlife as it always seems to be abuzz with
marine life. Whales (in season) have numbered 16000 passing by last
season and are growing strongly every year. Dolphins, manta rays,
turtles, sting rays, sea birds and soldier crabs in their thousands.
It’s a great place to see local marine life in their habitat, in the
wild.
And who doesn't have the dream of riding a horse along a beautiful beach? Rainbow Beach Horse Rides. Here's what they say about their horse riding tours:
Rainbow Beach Horse
Rides is owned and created 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.
Rainbow
Beach is located in south east Queensland, approximately 3 hours north
of Brisbane. It is an incredibly spectacular ocean beach nestled nearby
the World Heritage listed Fraser Island.
Whilst
riding on the pristine white sands with Rainbow Beach Horse Rides
during the whale season, it is very likely that you will see whales
breaching or dolphins playing in the beautiful turquoise waters.
Rainbow
Beach has been internationally rated in the top 5 "Most Incredible
Beaches of the World" and the "Third most colourful beach in the world.
Rainbow
Beach Horse Rides have the only permit in existence to operate horse
rides on this environmentally sensitive stretch of pristine coastline
which is surrounded by World Heritage listed National Park.
It is amazing that you can drive a 4WD along the beach. We just hope that everyone drives responsibly and respects the incredible privilege of being able to do so.
Please don't speed, don't drive over sensitive vegetation and sand dunes, and please don't leave your rubbish.
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.
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 fromThe 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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
