Rainbow Beach, Queensland

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Rainbow Beach is a coastal town in south-eastern Queensland, Australia, in Cooloola Shire. The town's name derives from the rainbow-coloured sand dunes surrounding the settlement; according to the legends of the Kabi people, the dunes were coloured when Yiningie, a spirit represented by a rainbow, plunged into the cliffs after doing battle with an evil tribesman.[1]

Originally a sand-mining community, gazetted in 1969, the town's economy is now heavily influenced by tourism. Double Island Point, a popular destination amongst 4WD enthusiasts, is located south of town. Vehicular ferries for Fraser Island depart from Inskip Point, north of town. The Cooloola Section of the Great Sandy National Park borders the town to the south. A number of walking tracks through the national park depart from the southern outskirts of Rainbow Beach.[2]

By road, Rainbow Beach is located 75 km from the Bruce Highway town of Gympie, and 239 km from the Queensland state capital, Brisbane.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hues of a rainbow, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30-08-2006.
  2. ^ Travel: Rainbow Beach, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30-08-2006.

[edit] External links