I should probably specify from the get-go that Rainbow Beach is not in any way, shape or form a gay destination despite its name. As you’re about to find out, the name “Rainbow Beach” springs not from any homosexual debauchery, but rather from the multiple colors of sand that line the adjacent coastline. Rainbow Beach’s rainbow is thus one of browns, pinks and greys, but a rainbow just the same.
The “center” of Rainbow Beach
There isn’t much to the “town” of Rainbow Beach, gays or otherwise. Aside from an IGA supermarket, a couple hostels and a main streets that comprises approximately two coffee shops and three restaurants, there is quite literally nothing to Rainbow Beach — you can see most of it in the single shot above, in fact.
The northern part of Rainbow Beach, which I would argue is better for swimming/lounging
Of course the town is called Rainbow Beach for a reason — the beach is what there is to see! The town nicely bisects the beach into two lobes. The northernmost lobe, pictured above, is flatter, sandier and better for typical beach activities like swimming and lounging. Isn’t it beautiful?
To get to the actual “rainbow” sands, you’ll need to walk a bit
In order to reach the northern lobe of Rainbow Beach, you’ll need to take a “bush walk” through the sand and shrubbery covering the hill that rises just south of the “town center.” If you stay at either of the hostels in town (I stayed at Dingos), you can hop onto a free “sunset” bush walk — and you’ll see why that’s a good idea in a minute.
As you can see, the “rainbow” of Rainbow Beach is a relatively subtle one
To be fair, the rainbow you find when you arrive at the colored-sand portion of Rainbow Beach is extremely subtle. With the exception of fleeting pink and even orange sands, the spectrum is mainly one of brown and grey. In spite of the misleading name it is beautiful; just don’t expect to see unicorns.
If you’ve got about A$100 to fork out, you can parasail above Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach is a decidedly budget and backpacker destination, so the number of add-ons available here is low. If you do choose to spend big, one popular option is parasailing, although this poor chap didn’t seem to be getting much wind.
Most tourists opt to explore the subtle spectrum of sand on foot
The majority of us po’ folks instead wind down the night walking to and fro along the “rainbow” sands. If you’re afraid of bees — and I am, to a psychologically unstable extent — you should probably be aware of the large wasps/hornets that lurk on Rainbow Beach. They remain high in number no matter how close to the water you go. My advice? Stay close to a sexy man; that way when the bees come, you’ll have an excuse to lunge at him.
Others find a place in the sand — and in the sun — and relax there
If it hadn’t been for the bees I’d have been like this girl, my ass parked in the sand. After all, walking — or, in my case, running — on a granular surface is tiring. Unfortunately I’m a baby, so I relaxed only long enough to snap a candid picture of this brave teenage tourist.
The most dramatic rainbow you’ll see at Rainbow Beach is one of the incredible sunsets over the region
Like the sands of the beach itself, the sunset at Rainbow Beach isn’t quite a rainbow, but it’s a vivid enough spectrum that you won’t leave disappointed.
Robert Schrader is a travel writer and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications such as “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” along the way. His blog, Leave Your Daily Hell, provides a mix of travel advice, destination guides and personal essays covering the more esoteric aspects of life as a traveler.
