Visit Rainbow Beach NZ Promotion

d n i f u o y n a c e Wher , e n i h s n u s f o 300 days e r u t n e v d a d e k action pac Our community invites l l a g n i m and swim you to enjoy our sun, surf ? d n u o r year and Coloured Sands…

Visit

Rainbow Beach EscApE tO A sLOWER pAcE

30 LAKEs

With direct flights into Sunshine Coast page 3

Gateway to Fraser Island K’gari page 10

LiVE LiKE A LOcAL

FREE tHiNGs tO DO

In Queensland’s adventure playground from page 6

www.visitrainbowbeach.com.au

To keep kids happy page 12

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#visitrainbowbeach

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We invite you to discover Australia's hidden gem ...

Rainbow Beach T

he Small buSIneSS owners in Rainbow beach have decided to spread the word to you, our neighbours across the ocean, to escape your chilly weather into sunny Queensland and our corner of the country. ey say Rainbow Beach is recognised internationally as one of the best beaches and beach destinations in the world.

For us locals, we just know the freedom of our beautiful backyard: we swim all year round and are surrounded by beach and bush, with World Heritage-listed Fraser Island K’gari just minutes away.

It's laidback, so be prepared for the relaxed pace - we live by the tides here.

We're blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year with warm waters, activities and adventure that, to us, seems 'everyday'.

Like driving on the beach...it is actually Australia’s unique Great Beach Drive - the longest beach drive in the world.

We pull in tuna 'out the front' from the patrolled beach, spot whales a few steps from the main street, handfeed dolphins and surf Australia's longest wave.

We can bushwalk to freshwater lakes, play in creeks and, our favourite, watch the kids play while the sun sets over distant inlets, from a massive sandblow that is perched over our town.

We don’t have crowds, but we do have

1000 friendly locals, a variety of places to stop for the night, plenty of eateries to choose from and are surrounded by a natural playground for you to enjoy.

Now with seasonal direct flights from Auckland, we are even closer.

So what are you waiting for?

Here is your personal invitation to one of Australia’s ‘best kept secrets’ - come and visit Rainbow Beach.

You can swim all year round on our coast!

it is now even easier to visit Rainbow Beach

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IR NEW ZEALAND operates seasonal direct services from Auckland to the Sunshine Coast, only two hours from Rainbow Beach or 90 minutes via the Great Beach Drive. e 2017 services commence from July 7 until October.

For more flight information see: www.airnz.co.nz Rainbow Beach is easily reached via a scenic 2 hour and 45 minutes drive north from Brisbane Airport, or 1 hour and 45 minutes drive from Sunshine Coast Airport.

Travelling by air – options are: Sunshine Coast e airport offers both international and domestic air services, including winter Air New Zealand return flights to and from Auckland. brisbane International and Domestic Airports serviced daily by key international and domestic airlines.

transfer options available to Rainbow Beach: Rental car – all major companies available at airports (NB quality 4WD hire available in Rainbow Beach) 4WD wagons and buses – Great Beach Drive 4WD Tours Shuttle bus – Active Tours and Transfers (Brisbane and Sunshine Coast Airports only)

Rainbow Beach Helicopters – charters, special getaway packages and transfers to/from Sunshine Coast Airport, Fraser Island K’gari Resorts, Gympie and Hervey Bay Coach – Greyhound daily service

COVER IMAGE: At Rainbow Beach, we're happy to share our favourite places with you - here's legendary Double Island Point which overlooks our famous Coloured Sands Image Epic Ocean Adventures

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Escape the bitumen ...

and experience the legend of our coloured sands A must see - Rainbow Beach is the only town situated on the Great Beach Drive; we locals think it is the best road in the world Image Great Beach Drive Tours

O

uR ICOnIC Tall sand cliffs with over 72 different colours is the reason our town is named Rainbow

beach.

If you walk south, past rocks and freshwater springs, you will approach the stunning Coloured Sands that tower over the beach only a few minutes from town. e complex array in tones and hues of the sands exposed by erosion include shades of orange, brown, pink, silver, gold,

white and more. It is thought that the sands have been forming since the last Ice age, resulting from iron oxide, rich minerals and leached vegetable dyes. aborigines believe a different story about this amazing slice of paradise. e Dreamtime story talks of a brave rainbow who died on the dunes fighting for the love of his life. e rainbow was destroyed into a billion particles, coming to an end upon the shores

and in the dunes - which is where the beautiful colours of Rainbow beach are now seen and admired by people from around the globe. low tide is the best time to explore the Coloured Sands on the Great beach Drive. hire a 4WD or take a tour and, with stretches of beach as your road, you’ll be driving the longest beach drive on the planet.

Tour with the Coloured Sands, coastal

dunes and natural australian bushland on one side, and the sparkling Pacific Ocean on the other.

In this remarkable natural environment you are likely to witness whales, dolphins, turtles and rare bird species. is tourist drive is steeped in australian history and encompasses two uneSCO biosphere Reserves, a World heritage marine Park and the largest sand island in the world.

Explore the Great sandy National park a

LSO KNOWN AS THE Cooloola Recreation Area, this park encompasses the Cooloola sand mass, Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island K’gari. Cooloola offers something for all visitors.

Four-wheel drive past towering coastal sand cliffs and Coloured Sands on the Great Beach Drive, fish straight from the ocean, beach camp close to the ocean, canoe on tranquil waterways, hike through rainforest remnants and across vast sandblows and picnic amongst blooming wildflowers.

Double island point You could say that Double Island Point is one of the Australian coastline’s best

kept secrets. Named by Captain James Cook in 1770, ‘DI’ is accessible by 4WD only, along the Great Beach Drive from Rainbow Beach or Noosa.

Situated within the Great Sandy Marine Park, the point is a magnet for marine life of every description from dolphins to turtles and even whales on migration.

Whether you're looking for a quiet place to spend the day, or the ideal spot to catch some waves with your mates - Double Island Point will not disappoint.

carlo sandblow Accessible via an easy 600 metre nature walk from Cooloola Drive. Sand driven by the wind has blown along Australia’s coast and accumulated over thousands of years,

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creating a sea of sand covering over 15 hectares. Locals and visitors flock to Carlo Sandblow in the aernoon to take in the sun setting over Tin Can Bay and the Great Sandy Strait.

Bymien Picnic Area. e two kilometre walking track passes through lush rainforest to Lake Poona. e teacoloured freshwater lake is a unique feature of this region.

inskip point

seary’s creek

Just across from the famous World Heritage-listed Fraser Island K’gari.

Inskip Point recreation area offers both open ocean surf and the sheltered estuary waters of Tin Can Bay and the Great Sandy Strait.

Discover refreshing swimming holes at Seary’s Creek day rest area 7km south of Rainbow Beach. e 100 metre flat boardwalk and accessible shallow water at Seary’s Creek makes this site wheelchair friendly and a popular swimming spot for young families.

Lake poona Four kilometres south of Rainbow Beach take Freshwater Road to the

Our magnificent Carlo Sandblow overlooks the coastline from Double Island Point to Inskip Point and the southern tip of Fraser Island K’gari Image Destination Gympie Region

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take adventure up a notch

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AINBOW BEACH is an adventure-seekers playground; you will need to allow sufficient time to experience the full range of activities available.

Double Island Point is only accessible by 4WD vehicles (available for hire locally), away from the crowds and into the heart of the Great Sandy National Park where many of the local and migrating wildlife species can be experienced.

On our coast you can ride horses on one of Australia’s best beaches, kayak with marine life including whales, learn to surf, four-wheel drive along the shore, be up close to wildlife on land and in the water, go boating and even jump out of a plane!

Ultimate doors-off scenery!

Free-falling adrenaline

Rainbow Beach Helicopters offer numerous scenic flights showcasing spectacular views of the Rainbow Beach coastline.

Only by air can you appreciate the Great Sandy Strait’s expanse and pristine waterways and wetlands that stretch up past Fraser Island K’gari, which have more marine life than the Great Barrier Reef and over 140 species of birds. If you look carefully you may even sight a dugong casually grazing in its abundant paddock of seagrass!

Rainbow Beach is internationally recognised as a wonderful parasailing, hang gliding and sky diving destination. Take an epic tandem skydive adventure from 14,000 feet above sea level, above some outstanding beachfront scenery.

Aer your skydive briefing from the experts, you’ll head up, up and away.

Summon your courage and jump out the door, finishing with an amazingly scenic, graceful float to the ground.

Here's the town of Rainbow Beach

Noosa to Fraser island K’gari trek is five day, 102 kilometre Cooloola Great Walk links the Noosa North Shore to Rainbow Beach via the eastern high dunes.

Walkers can camp in remote areas of Cooloola National Park, pass through heathland and rainforest and take in the spectacular views. Continue on with 90 kilometres and 6 lakes in 6 days on the Fraser Island K’gari Great Walk.

Learn to kitesurf Use the power of the wind and raise your adrenaline levels! Kitesurfing is fun, exciting and great exercise. See what the buzz is all about with one of the world’s fastest growing extreme sports.

Sitting in comfort, safely strapped in; you'll be grinning from ear to ear from the thrill and exhilaration of your helicopter flight Image Rainbow Beach Helicopters

take adventure up a notch

Kayak with dolphins and whales Hundreds of dolphins live here in our allyear-round crystal clear warm waters; so your chances to see them on a kayak tour are high. You are also likely to see turtles, whales (May - November), rays, sea birds and soldier crabs in their thousands.

On a gentle paddle around the headland, you can absorb the breathtaking views and natural surroundings of the area, as well as seeing the Double Island Point Lighthouse from a unique view. is Epic Ocean Adventures trip is suitable for ages 7 years up and is a must for anyone looking for a lifetime experience with the wild!

surf on Australia’s longest and safest beginner wave Epic Ocean Adventures take you away from the crowds where you can learn to surf on super-fun long waves that will make your progression rewarding and fast.

Learn to surf in waist deep water with friendly, qualified instructors so you will stand up on your first lesson!

By kayak is an exhilarating way to see dolphins up close - and humpback whales too!

Image Epic Ocean Adventures

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One of the best dives in Australia Located just off Double Island Point, go underwater and dive at a grey nurse shark sanctuary at one of Australia’s best dive sites - Wolf Rock.

Let Wolf Rock Dive show you grey nurse sharks, manta rays, leopard sharks, eagle rays and giant Queensland groper; see three different species of turtle, schools of pelagic and all the little stuff like nudibranchs, colourful tropical fish, hard and so corals, octopus, moray eels, sea snakes and more.

Plus in winter months you get the bonus of the humpback whale migration.

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take adventure up a notch

Ride a horse along the picturesque Rainbow Beach Enjoy riding on a well-educated horse along iconic Rainbow Beach, with fantastic views of the Coloured Sands, Double Island Point and Fraser Island K’gari.

Rainbow Beach Horse Rides cater for all levels of riding abilities, and offer a range of different riding options, from beach to country rides and even special full moon horse rides. For those under 10 without extensive riding experience, private and/or led rides to cater to the individual’s needs can be arranged.

A paraglider's paradise Rainbow Beach is one of the 10 best coastal sites in the world for paragliding. It is famous for its safe launch and landing, its smooth, laminar air, spectacular view of the Coloured Sands and pristine clear sea. Despite not using an engine, paraglider flights normally last 1-2 hours and cover tens of kilometres.

Your aquatic playground awaits!

Learn to stand-up paddle in one of the most spectacular uncrowded National Park locations in Australia.

Practice the basics with Epic Ocean Adventures while spotting dolphins, turtles, rays and sea birds or take the challenge riding super long beginner waves.

Great Beach Drive tours Family-friendly, guided tours take in the famous Coloured Sands, stunning 360-degree ocean views from Double Island Point lighthouse, secluded swimming lagoon and the stunning Cooloola National Park, in an unforgettable experience of the natural beauty and rich history of this unique coastline.

More than just a drive, this tour contains amazing scenery, incredible wildlife, access to spots otherwise inaccessible, and a detailed demonstration of how the Coloured Sands of Rainbow Beach were used in traditional Aboriginal artworks.

Experience Rainbow Beach from horseback!

Image Rainbow Beach Horserides

A fishing haven b

eaCh FIShInG is one of the great nature-based activities you can do in the Gympie region. Inskip Point, Rainbow beach and the Cooloola Coast offer almost 100 kilometres of fantastic year-round fishing. e variety of species includes dart, whiting, flathead, bream and tailor. If you venture to the rocks at Double Island Point you can catch mackerel and kingfish. additionally you can charter a boat for a reef fishing excursion to catch red emperor, snapper, parrot and coral trout. hire a boat and launch into the Tin Can bay Inlet or Inskip Point within the uneSCO-recognised Great Sandy Strait, which is a

perfect destination for fishing and boating. e uniqueness and diversity of the Gympie region’s waterways provides anglers with double the amount of fish species that can be found anywhere else in australia.

With warm northern and cool southern currents meeting at Fraser Island K’gari, the Strait provide a one-stop location for an incredible variety of top angling fish, all able to be caught in the one location.

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Offering a maze of sandbanks, estuaries and reefs, the Great Sandy Strait creates the perfect home for an array of marine life.

Species include coral trout, bream, whiting, flathead, mackerel, tailor, mangrove jack, and barramundi along with sand and mud crabs.

Getting away from the coast,

the Gympie region offers the angler the excitement of fishing in freshwater dams and rivers. e calm waters of borumba Dam, near Imbil, are perfect for lure and fly fishing and you can catch golden and silver perch, australian bass and saratoga.

As well as beach and estuary fishing, we have several fishing charters where you are likely to catch a big one like this estuary cod Image Keely Rose Fishing Charters

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Experience World Heritage-listed Fraser island K’gari

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AINBOW BEACH is the southern gateway to Fraser Island K’gari, and you can be on the island in 25 minutes via the Manta Ray Barge. For a self-drive experience, hire a four wheel drive from a local firm or fully guided tours are also available with pick up and drop off in Rainbow Beach, making the town the perfect place to base yourself for your Fraser experience. e world’s largest sand island is an area of remarkable natural beauty with its dunes, rainforests, beaches and freshwater lakes and wildlife, like dingos.

Growing on seemingly infertile sands is a great variety of plant communities, ranging from coastal heath, mangrove forests and swamps, to subtropical rainforest. e many archaeological remains found on the island record thousands of years of culture and tradition, and provide important links to their past for the Butchulla people. e island is 123 km long and covers an area of 166,038 ha, so you need to allow plenty of time to appreciate it, during your relaxing

or adventure-filled getaway.

Lake McKenzie Forty of Fraser Island K’gari’s freshwater lakes are perched in the tops of sand dunes high above sea level - this is quite remarkable given that there are only 80 such lakes in the world. e 130 hectare Lake McKenzie is the most popular and extremely picturesque, with its crystal clear fresh water, beaches of pure white sand and tranquillity.

central station In the heart of the rainforest you'll find remnants of the central Forestry Department station from 1920 to 1959. Learn about the history of the Island and walk in the valley formed by Wanggoolba Creek, so thick in places that the sunlight struggles to penetrate the forest canopy.

Eli creek Fraser Island K’gari sits on top of a huge underground reservoir of fresh water with an

Popular Lake McKenzie is an ideal place for swimming and picnics Image Fraser Island Adventure Tours

abundance of natural springs feeding freshwater streams. e largest and most attractive on the eastern shore is Eli Creek, which winds from many kilometres inland to carve its bed through the beach and pour 8 million litres of water a day into the Pacific Ocean. Carry a body board down the boardwalk and float down the creek.

indian Head One of the few genuine rocky outcrops on the island, Indian Head is at the northern end of the famous 75-mile long eastern surf beach.

Take in possibly the best panoramic vista of Fraser Island K’gari's beaches and marine life.

champagne pools e ocean crashing over brings foaming water into these naturally formed volcanic rock recreational pools, hence the name. With a shallow sandy bottom and easy-access timber walking tracks, they are the most popular saltwater swimming destination on the Island.

Days out Feed dolphins at tin can Bay Tin Can Bay is only 30 minutes from Rainbow Beach and home to the local IndoPacific humpback dolphins that visit daily around 7.30am. Take the rare chance to handfeed these wonderful animals before breakfast.

With its ideal sailing conditions and stunning scenery, the sheltered waters of the Great Sandy Strait are perfect for sailing, boating, fishing and kayaking - you can explore right up the western side of Fraser Island K’gari.

Go back to the Gympie Goldrush Gympie is an Aussie icon, with quirky boutiques, old-style cafes and new eateries.

With its heritage buildings and manicured parks, you learn how the town saved Queensland from bankruptcy - and you can still pan for gold!

Explore the hinterland e Mary Valley has wonderful tracks and trails for you to hike, mountain bike, horse ride and even motorbike and 4WD. Visit lush rainforest, swimming holes, historic pubs and a platypus viewing platform.

Lake Borumba, just past Imbil, is a great place to water ski, kayak or fish. e rivers and creeks are perfect kayaking and

canoeing options and you might be lucky enough to spot a turtle or the elusive platypus.

More 4WD adventure?

A couple of kilometres out of Rainbow Beach take the Freshwater Track (gravel but 2WD accessible) to Lake Poona picnic area, before becoming a 4WD only track that will take you through rainforest and coastal dunes to Teewah Beach south of Double Island Point.

Wild and beautiful, the Great Sandy National Park offers some of the best fourwheel drive trails in Queensland just off the bitumen. ese trails will take you deep into the pine plantations and rugged coastal bush.

Go west Heading west to Gympie you pass through pine plantations with a number of tracks for hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and motorised adventure. e area is also home to brumbies.

Near Goomeri and Kilkivan you can hike or ride some of the Bicentennial National Trail that runs almost the entire length of the east coast of Australia. You can also hike and rock climb at Glastonbury State Forest.

You can handfeed wild dolphins at nearby Tin Can Bay

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Family-friendly free activities

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OU DON’T NEED to spend a bucket when you visit Rainbow Beach! Aer they have posed in a propeller photo at the headland, try these ideas for your family, or you and your partner, that won’t cost you a cent….

swim at our patrolled beach With our tropical climate - we swim all year round! As well as a dip in the ocean, look for interesting shells and rocks or try skimming rocks… Finish with a mandatory sandcastle, you are in Rainbow Beach!

Explore Mudlo Rocks e rocks and rock pools change EVERY day! Particularly popular mid-tide and when they are exposed, everyone likes to watch the 4WD vehicles traverse them.

Wonder at the waterfalls on the beach and the underground water systems. Climb the mini-sandblow, build a dam at the base and then watch it overflow!

see the coloured sands Walk a little bit further and you will arrive at the start of the Coloured Sands, a favourite for photography buffs.

Feast your eyes at the sandblow People return again and again to Carlo Sandblow – breathtaking in any season, any time of the day. Just go to watch the sun slink under the horizon over the Sandy Strait.

Rainbow Beach is the perfect winter getaway!

Dine alfresco

Go walking

Wildflower wanderings

Take your lunch to the picnic tables – kids can play in the park, while you admire the view – even spotting whales at certain times of the year.

Walking tracks from and around Rainbow Beach are plentiful - try the 4km circuit walk to the Sandblow, the 15.7km track to Double Island Point or the 8km Telegraph Track to Poona Lake.

Easily accessible from Freshwater Road, the walk to Poona from Rainbow Beach and even in town, expect a kaleidoscope of colour in early spring.

Our forest and vast, open heathlands gives an array of wildflower colour that is breathtakingly beautiful. Tin Can Bay has a "Wildflower Walk" where they can be seen year round.

inskip point and carlo point Watch the Manta Ray Barge as it travels back and forth delivering 4WDs to Fraser Island K’gari from Inskip Point. Carlo point has a boat ramp and a perfect spot to launch your kayak. Both are popular fishing spots and you'll be rewarded with spectacular sunsets.

Fresh water fun Another must do – explore the boardwalk, wade in the crystal clear waters, and read the sign there to learn about the local critters and the history at Seary’s Creek. Or allow about 40 minutes to trek into the oasis of Poona Lake - play spot the goanna.

Are you a birdwatcher?

Even the keenest birdwatcher will be amazed - many unique and rare bird species live in this special ecosystem where over 140 species have been sighted. Stroll along the bird walk that stretches four kilometres along Tin Can Bay’s foreshore.

somewhere over the Rainbow

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AINBOW BEACH is a true coastal gem that retains its character from the 1980s with a number of modern additions.

Named for the towering cliffs of the Coloured Sands, our town is surrounded by beach and national parks, an adventure seeker and nature lover's playground.

Inskip Point, Cooloola National Park and nearby Fraser Island K’gari are the top camping destinations in Queensland.

You can choose to camp under the stars, opt for a luxury apartment, or something in between. ere's all types of accommodation everything from backpacker lodges to houseboats!

Along the main street stop and enjoy a coffee and snack at one of the cafés, and browse our local boutiques before strolling down to the beach for the view around to Double Island Point.

For a small coastal town, we have a broad choice of eateries - some with stunning waterfront views, or choose to

dine alfresco in a piazza.

You're invited to experience our Aussie way of life - meet the locals at a Saturday market, relax with live music, play barefoot bowls or you can even win a meat tray raffle! e Gympie Region is internationally recognised for the quality and variety of our

fresh produce. ere's export quality beef grown by our local butcher; citrus, avocados and small crops in our hinterland and fresh seafood from the pristine waters of the Great Sandy Strait.

So be sure to keep one night free - for fish and chips on the headland!

Rainbow Beach caters for travellers with shops, diverse accommodation options and you can take your pick of restaurants and cafés

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Our top 10 things to do

1. Kayak with dolphins, turtles and even whales at Rainbow Beach.

2. handfeed dolphins at Tin Can Bay. 3. Visit World heritage-listed Fraser Island K’gari - catch the barge from Inskip Point to Fraser Island K’gari in only 10 minutes!

4. Visit Carlo Sandblow for sunrise or sunset and the Coloured Sands.

5. Go boating and fishing in the Great Sandy Strait situated between Tin Can Bay and Hervey Bay.

6. Go camping at Inskip Point or Cooloola Recreation Area.

7. Drive the Great beach Drive from Noosa to the top of Fraser Island K’gari, you can drive on the longest beach road in the world.

8. Skydive, paraglide or take a helicopter ride over the Cooloola Coast and have the ultimate aerial view of our spectacular coastline.

9. Scuba dive at Wolf Rock off Double Island Point, one of Australia’s best diving destinations.

10. bird watching at Tin Can Bay where

Find out more Website: www.visitrainbowbeach.com.au/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/visitrainbowbeach Instagram: @visitrainbowbeach #visitrainbowbeach Direct flights to Sunshine Coast: www.airnz.co.nz

there are over 140 different species. is area is one of Queensland’s most popular for camping, so book to avoid disappointment during peak periods.

Camping and vehicle permits: http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/experiences/ camping/camping_bookings.html http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/ cooloola/faq.html is publication was produced by Rainbow Beach Cooloola Coast Community News with support from the Rainbow beach Commerce and Tourism association, Destination Gympie Region and Visit Sunshine Coast.

W: www.cooloolacoastnews.com.au e: info@rbcn.com.au PO box 204, Rainbow beach 4581 Queensland auSTRalIa +617 5486 3561 Printed by Fairfax Media, New Zealand, May 2017 is publication is copyright Rainbow Beach Cooloola Coast Community News. Maps are for general use and not to scale. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and reliability, RBCCCN accepts no liability for the information presented. ank you to those who contributed editorial and images for this publication.

You can see Fraser Island K’gari from Carlo Sandblow Image Keyko Design

Rainbow Beach Double Island Point

Fun Sun Nature Adventure Warm water Swim all year gympieregion.com.au