Scarborough to Rainbow Beach

Yet again it was raining so we ate a leisurely breakfast and kept an eye on the weather. In the end we very quickly packed up and hitched up the caravan just on check out time. Initially we drove west before turning north. Soon enough one of the Glasshouse Mountains came into view.

Stopping on the northern fringe of Brisbane we swapped drivers in a rest area. Some beautiful Grevilleas in the garden there.

As we approached Gympie the traffic built up.

We refuelled at a good price in Gympie before continuing on.

The weather was still gloomy and threatening to rain again.

After the turn off to Rainbow Beach

we passed through an area of pine plantations.

Rain abruptly began to dump on us.

After about 20 minutes of heavy rain and dodgy driving conditions it eased up.

Rainbow Beach

So by the time we actually reached Rainbow Bay the roads were drying fast.

However we had not long checked in and set up the caravan at the Big 4 Breeze Holiday Park at Rainbow Beach marina and it began to pour. Late in the afternoon it stopped briefly and Karen took Mel out for a quick walk over to the marina while I drove into the IGA supermarket and bought a few supplies.

The next morning it was still drizzly so we stayed in the caravan for a while after breakfast. Mid morning it finally eased so Karen showed me over the marina. Mel came too of course.

As the weather appeared to be clearing we drove into town and parked near the steps down to the beach. It was quite a steep descent so Karen carried Mel.

At the bottom of the steps we saw that they were appropriately painted.

Once we started walking along the beach we noticed the dark clouds gathering again

so we made our way back up to a balcony viewpoint with an excellent view along the beach.

As it was nearly lunchtime we started our drive back to the caravan, stopping three times when I spotted some wonderful murals.

Given the weather we thought the third one was appropriate. We were just waiting for the sun and a rainbow!

Rain started again while we were eating lunch and continued into the afternoon. So Karen did some knitting and I read for a bit. Eventually it stopped. I checked the weather app on my phone and it looked all clear so we drove down to Cooloola Recreation Reserve with the intention of checking out the Carlo Sandblow, a local attraction. It’s a massive sand dune area where wind is blowing sand inland and burying everything in its wake. Unfortunately it is part of the Great Sandy National Park so Karen and I would have to take turns to stay with our dog Mel in the car while the other one walked. Karen was happy for me to go first.

Here’s the gateway sign.

The path takes walkers through a lovely area of eucalyptus trees with bracken undergrowth.

Some of the old ones looked magnificent.

After a while I came to a couple of sections of steps.

Eventually they lead me to a viewpoint with an information board.

Here’s the view towards the ocean

and here’s the view looking inland showing where the sandblow was creeping.

Lastly, here is a panoramic shot I took with my iPhone.

On the return walk I noticed this eucalyptus leaning over a long way but not actually fallen.

By the time I returned to the car Karen said she wouldn’t go on that walk but said we should go back to the beach so Mel could have a walk and we could see the sunset.

Mel was fascinated by the little crabs scurrying into their holes as we walked along the beach. The work the crabs do to clear their entry holes is quite artistic I think.

The sun set over the other side of the hills but the colour in the clouds was spectacular.

As we returned to the caravan park we passed another mural, which appropriately was showing a sunset view. Note the subtle advertising for the pizza shop whose back wall it had been painted on.

However pizza wasn’t what we ate as I had some hamburgers ready to cook on the barbecue at the caravan park.

Next post we take a day trip to nearby Tin Can Bay.