Where is Rainbow Beach?

Rainbow Beach is in Wide Bay-Burnett, Queensland, Australia.

When is the best time to visit Rainbow Beach?

Based on 30 years of weather data, the most pleasant months at Rainbow Beach are typically July, September, August — mild temperatures and lower rainfall. School holiday periods can also fit if you don't mind the crowds.

What's the weather like in Rainbow Beach?

Summer daytime highs average around 35°C and winter overnight lows can drop to about 9°C. See the climate panel above for the month-by-month breakdown.

Destinations · Wide Bay-Burnett

Rainbow Beach

Coloured sand cliffs, Double Island Point 4WD beach and the southern route to K'gari.

Rainbow Beach is a coastal rural town and locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Rainbow Beach had a population of 1,220 people. It is a popular tourist destination, both in its own right and as a gateway to K'gari (formerly known as Fraser Island), with a vehicle ferry frequently running to the southern point of K'gari.

Background information about Rainbow Beach adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Next 7 days at Rainbow Beach

Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Updated each time the page loads.

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Best time to visit Rainbow Beach

Based on 30 years of weather data. Sweet spot: Jul, Aug, Sep — mild temperatures, low rainfall and plenty of sun. Avoid Feb, Mar if you can — typically the wettest or hottest stretch of the year.

Jan

35°

21° low

153mm

Feb

33°

18° low

177mm

Mar

33°

19° low

158mm

Apr

31°

15° low

99mm

May

28°

11° low

90mm

Jun

26°

10° low

89mm

Jul

26°

9° low

43mm

Aug

28°

9° low

64mm

Sep

31°

12° low

45mm

Oct

33°

12° low

84mm

Nov

33°

15° low

75mm

Dec

35°

19° low

133mm

Daytime high (large) · overnight low (small) · monthly rainfall (blue bar). Climate normals: 1991–2020 from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis.

Beach & ocean conditions at Rainbow Beach

Typical wave height around 2.1 m over the next two weeks. a wetsuit makes winter swims much more pleasant.

Avg wave height

2.1 m

Sea-surface temperatures from Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Wave forecast from the GFS Wave model — check official sources before swimming, paddling or boating.

What else is around Rainbow Beach

Points of interest within 25 km, pulled from OpenStreetMap. Distances are straight-line; check road access before heading out.

🎡 Attractions (8)

Viewpoint Overview0.5 km
Rainbow Beach Surlive Saving Hut0.5 km
Carlo Sandblow Walking Track0.8 km
Cooloola Great Walk Seat0.8 km
Red Canyon22.8 km
Ramsay's Hut23.6 km

🔭 Lookouts & viewpoints (4)

Unnamed0.5 km
Carlo Dune Viewing Platform1.2 km
Unnamed1.6 km
Unnamed10.4 km

⛰️ Peaks & summits (10)

Carlo1.2 km
Unnamed11.4 km
Mount Bilewilam12.4 km
East Mullen15.6 km
The Bluff16.7 km
South Mullen16.8 km

🏰 Historic sites (3)

Great War Memorial0.4 km
Board Riders Club Memorial0.5 km
Anzac memorial8.5 km

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Drive times to and from Rainbow Beach

Real road distance and driving time to other destinations in the state. Click through for fuel estimates, suggested overnight stops, and tours along the way.

To Gold Coast Hinterland

344 km · 4h 32m

To Gladstone

374 km · 4h 58m

Frequently asked about Rainbow Beach

Where is Rainbow Beach?: Rainbow Beach is in Wide Bay-Burnett, Queensland, Australia.
When is the best time to visit Rainbow Beach?: Based on 30 years of weather data, the most pleasant months at Rainbow Beach are typically July, September, August — mild temperatures and lower rainfall. School holiday periods can also fit if you don't mind the crowds.
What's the weather like in Rainbow Beach?: Summer daytime highs average around 35°C and winter overnight lows can drop to about 9°C. See the climate panel above for the month-by-month breakdown.