Rainbow Beach is a small coastal town in the Gympie Region with a permanent population of about 1,000, yet about 70,000 visitors arrive each year. If you are searching for Rainbow Beach hotels and motels, that gap between residents and guests is worth keeping in mind when you plan.
Below you will find where to look for a bed, plus the climate, drive times and tours that help you choose when and how to visit.
Rainbow Beach hotels and motels: where to look
For a motel or hotel enquiry, call 1800 815 378 (free call) and the team will help with your question. Our wider Rainbow Beach accommodation page is the best place to compare styles of stay, and the Rainbow Beach accommodation listings collect what is on the site.
If you want something other than a motel room, these pages cover the alternatives:
- Rainbow Beach apartments
- Rainbow Beach resorts, including Mantra Rainbow Shores
- Rainbow Beach budget accommodation
Holiday parks in and near Rainbow Beach
In town, BIG4 Rainbow Beach Holiday Park offers powered sites and cabins. Contact the park for current rates and availability before booking.
At neighbouring Tin Can Bay, Tin Can Bay Tourist Park has powered sites and cabins, and Kingfisher Caravan Park is also on offer.
Why people stay in Rainbow Beach
The town takes its name from the rainbow-coloured sand dunes fronting the beach. Kabi Kabi legend says the dunes were coloured when Yiningie, a spirit represented by a rainbow, plunged into the cliffs after doing battle with an evil tribesman. The colours come from the rich mineral content, including rutile, ilmenite, zircon and monazite.
Rainbow Beach is also a gateway to K'gari (formerly Fraser Island), with a vehicle ferry frequently running to the southern point of the island. The Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park borders the town to the south, and several walking tracks leave from the southern outskirts, including the northern end-point of the Cooloola Great Walk.
For ideas once you have a bed, see our Rainbow Beach activities page.
Getting to Rainbow Beach
By road, the town is 75 kilometres from Gympie and 239 kilometres from Brisbane. The distances below are from the Rainbow Beach area.
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Hervey Bay | 124 km | about 102 minutes |
| Noosa | 136 km | about 115 minutes |
| Sunshine Coast | 148 km | about 116 minutes |
| Bundaberg | 204 km | about 159 minutes |
| Brisbane | 236 km | about 182 minutes |
| Gold Coast | 315 km | about 239 minutes |
Brisbane is about three hours away, so a late arrival after work is realistic. We would book ahead rather than hope for a room on the day, given the visitor numbers.
Rainbow Beach weather by month
Rainbow Beach has a warm, humid subtropical climate, with hot, very wet summers and very mild, drier winters. February is the wettest month on average at about 201 mm, while September is the driest at 49 mm.
| Month | Max (C) | Min (C) | Rain (mm) | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27.7 | 23.5 | 148.8 | 14.3 |
| February | 27.4 | 23.7 | 200.7 | 15.9 |
| March | 26.5 | 22.9 | 156.8 | 17.5 |
| April | 24.9 | 21.1 | 106.3 | 14.6 |
| May | 22.7 | 18.6 | 116.1 | 14.0 |
| June | 20.8 | 16.5 | 88.6 | 11.8 |
| July | 20.3 | 15.4 | 51.4 | 8.4 |
| August | 21.2 | 15.8 | 59.7 | 6.7 |
| September | 23.2 | 17.6 | 49.0 | 7.3 |
| October | 24.6 | 19.3 | 83.9 | 9.1 |
| November | 26.0 | 20.9 | 77.6 | 9.8 |
| December | 27.1 | 22.4 | 134.4 | 13.3 |
Winter nights are mild, with July averaging a minimum of 15.4 C. The record high is 37.2 C and the record low is -1.0 C.
Tours to pair with your stay
The Rainbow Beach surf lesson safari to Double Island Point runs for 3 hours from AUD 139. Double Island Point is reached only by 4WD across the beach, and lessons take place within a protected Marine Park.
The Great Beach Drive private 4WD charter is an 8-hour trip from Noosa finishing at Rainbow Beach, from AUD 1295. Check current prices with the operator before booking.
For wider planning, see the Rainbow Beach destination guide, the Wikipedia entry for Rainbow Beach and Tourism and Events Queensland.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get help finding a motel in Rainbow Beach?
Call 1800 815 378 for help, or browse our accommodation listings and holiday park pages.
Are there caravan or holiday parks nearby?
Yes. BIG4 Rainbow Beach Holiday Park is in town, with Tin Can Bay Tourist Park and Kingfisher Caravan Park at Tin Can Bay. Contact each for rates.
How far is Rainbow Beach from Brisbane?
It is 236 km by road, about 182 minutes of driving.
