Rainbow Beach

Your gateway to K’gari and the top departure point for Tag-Along tours
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Day Trips

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Multi-Day Trips

The colourful coastal town that kicks off your K’gari adventure. Rainbow Beach is one of Queensland’s most iconic coastal stops, famous for its multicoloured sand cliffs, chilled beach town vibe and unbeatable access to K’gari. For backpackers and road trippers, this is the place to gear up, relax and get excited before heading out on one of Australia’s greatest adventures. More importantly, Rainbow Beach is the jump-off point to K’gari (Fraser Island) and the most popular departure location for the 3 Day K’gari 4WD Tag-Along Adventure. Travellers come here to join a convoy of 4WDs, drive along golden beaches, swim in crystal-clear lakes and camp under a sky loaded with stars. If K’gari is the highlight of your East Coast trip, Rainbow Beach is where the story starts. What many travellers don’t realise is that Rainbow Beach deserves more than just a quick overnight. Give yourself extra time and you can tick off some seriously iconic experiences before or after your Rainbow Beach Fraser Island K’gari Tours. Cruise up to Double Island Point for clifftop views and clean surf, hike the towering Carlo Sand Blow at sunset, or head to nearby Tin Can Bay for early-morning dolphin feeding. On the water, you can kayak alongside dolphins and bull rays, surf one of Australia’s longest waves, or dive Wolf Rock, a world-famous site known for regular sightings of grey nurse sharks. It’s all part of why Rainbow Beach isn’t just a launch point, it’s a destination in its own right.
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Rainbow Beach

Travel Questions

Rainbow Beach is the closest mainland access point to K’gari and the main hub for travellers joining the famous 3 Day 4WD Tag-Along Adventure. It offers easy logistics, pre-tour safety briefings and a fun backpacker atmosphere.

It’s one of Australia’s most iconic tours. You’ll join a convoy of 4WDs, drive along K’gari’s beaches, explore freshwater lakes, trek sand dunes and camp under the stars. A lead guide drives the first vehicle while travellers take turns driving the rest.

Yes. To take a turn behind the wheel of the 4WD, you’ll need a valid licence. If you don’t want to drive, you can still join as a passenger.

Absolutely. Rainbow Beach is a gorgeous destination in its own right, known for surfing, the Carlo Sand Blow lookout, coloured sands and laid-back coastal vibes.

Most travellers stay 1 night before the tour for the safety briefing and 1 night after returning from K’gari. Some stay longer to enjoy the beaches and town. We always recommend checking out Freedom Hostel whilst you are there.

It’s about 1.5 hours from Noosa and 3 hours north of Brisbane, making it an easy stop on any East Coast itinerary.

You can book directly through Peterpans online or chat with our travel team for help choosing dates, accommodation and tour upgrades.

call Australian Phone: +61 3 9125 3620 call International Phone: +61 (0)3 9125 3620 call WhatsApp: +61 480 064 975
location_on Peterpans Cairns Esplanade 83A Esplanade Cairns, 4870 Queensland, Australia