Surf and Sand Safaris acknowledges the ongoing connection to country of the traditional custodians of this beautiful region, the Kabi Kabi people.
Discover the Great Sandy National Park with
Surf and Sand Safaris
More than just a drive, this tour is an unforgettable experience of the natural beauty and rich history of this unique coastline, with experienced and passionate guides.
Family-friendly, small group guided tours departing from Rainbow Beach, our half-day tour takes in the famous Coloured Sands, Double Island Point lighthouse, a secluded swimming lagoon, the stunning Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park and the unbelievable natural beauty and wildlife of this amazing coastline.
Take in constantly changing scenery with Surf and Sand Safaris tours in this once in a lifetime experience with views and locations that will take your breath away and have you wondering why you didn’t do it sooner, and when you can do it again!
Half Day Tour
Departing Rainbow Beach daily, the 4 hour tour travels more than 50km of iconic beaches with our vehicles travelling on the sand.
You will be amazed by what this tour contains with stunning scenery and incredible wildlife, such as dolphins, manta rays, turtles, soldier crabs, birdlife, and whales (whale season is June-October).
Tour Highlights include:
- Rainbow Beach’s world famous Coloured Sands with more than 40 different shades of colour.
- Double Island Point Lighthouse offers breathtaking 360-degree views across the Coral Sea and scenic surrounds of the Great Sandy National Park.
- Honeymoon Bay a saltwater lagoon with some of the most scenic landscapes in Australia.
- Explore the Great Sandy National Park with a beautiful and unique rainforest drive through sand dunes.
Tours depart morning or afternoon from Rainbow Beach, depending upon tides and beach conditions. Pick up is from your Rainbow Beach accommodation, or the Rainbow Surf Club car park.
$99 adults $70 child – under 14
$320 Family – 2 adults & 2 children under 14
Private Tour
Want a little more freedom, and a more personalised experience or want to just take your time exploring this stunning slice of Queensland’s coastline?
Surf and Sand Safaris also offer Private charters.
Travelling privately is the perfect option for families, friends travelling together
or
couples wanting flexibility and privacy.
Set the pace of the tour and decide how long to stay at each of the stops.
More time at the Lighthouse, or rainforest, a longer swim, or time to just sit and soak up the view, all is possible during a Private Tour with Surf & Sand Safaris.
Half Day: $495 (4 hours)
for up to 6 passengers
Full Day: $1095
Rainbow to Noosa – Return- 8 hours, picnic lunch included)
for up to 6 passengers
Surf and Sand Safaris specialise in small group touring for up to 6 passengers, and is best at 4 Adults and 2 Child passengers.
We do regularly take 6 Adults with the rear most seats most suitable for smaller adults with good mobility or for children.
No level of fitness is required
You may like to bring water, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, camera, something to swim in and a towel
Reviews
BobMcG60
2 June 2023
Verified Must see at Rainbow Beach
Magnificent beach and sights tour. Tour guide Greg Ingliss took us on a remarkable tour along the beach to show and explain the coloured sands from Rainbow Beach. This tour must be done at low tide. Greg showed exceptional driving ability on the soft sands and obstacles - unfortunately manoeuvring a very tight spot which caused some damage to the vehicle. Greg the guide explained all the geological formations. Tour took in the lighthouse and views from the spit before refreshments at picnic spot. Return to Rainbow Beach via 4WD track and walk in rainforest. Greg overall very knowledgeable of the local vegetation and wildlife. Would not attempt this in my vehicle. Great tour and well priced. Would recommend the company and tour guide Greg Ingliss.
Stephen P
29 March 2023
Verified Great Experience
A fantastic tour recommend it to anyone visiting the region run by professionals that know the area, the history & everything in between. From booking with Craig & our guide Greg it was a great experience, don’t try & do it yourself go with the experts. A great finish to our first visit to the area.
Donna L
28 June 2022
Verified A great way to see all that Rainbow Beach has to offer!
Had a fantastic afternoon with Greg as a guide. His knowledge of Rainbow Beach and surrounds was extensive and he was great at explaining its history as we travelled around. Well worth doing!
Mike Brown
22 September 2021
Verified Coloured Sands, Whales, Dolphins & Turtles
Our half day tour of the coloured sands on Rainbow Beach and Double Island Point lighthouse was terrific. Our guide/driver, Andrew, was punctual, drove with expertise that ensured passenger comfort and provided interesting information as well as proving to be a first class whale, dolphin and turtle spotter during our time at the lighthouse. The tour is a great way for experiencing 4WD beach exploring and gaining up close and personal access to the beauties Mother Nature has provided here. A very good value for money tour.
hellsbellsGoldCoast
10 September 2021
Verified The only way to see the Rainbow Beach coloured sands
I have learnt a long time ago, having travelled many parts of the world, that if you want to really enjoy a destination spend the little extra and book a private tour. I booked a half day tour with Craig Madden for his Great Beach Drive 4WD tour simply on the strength of his website, and we were not disappointed. Right from the start, it was clear that Craig understands how customers want to be treated. His booking process was simple, the information was clear, and on the day prior to the tour, we received a phone briefing from him. We liked the fact that he provided a personal service, with no middlemen involved. He was on time, and the tour was probably one of the best we have enjoyed. Craig was knowledgeable, entertaining and knew all the right spots for photos or sight seeing. The fact that he is one of the few tour operators to have 4WD access to the lighthouse was a big surprise. And the afternoon tea wasn't half bad. We would recommend this tour without hesitation....we loved every minute of it, even his Dreamtime explanation of how the coloured sands were created. Many thanks again Craig.
X5317REsuzanneh
31 August 2020
Verified Fantastic half day tour with our great guide, Craig! A very memorable experience!
As my husband and I, and another couple (good friends) were staying at Rainbow Beach for a few days, we decided on a private half day (morning) tour with Craig Madden and were so impressed with our excursion. We were picked up at our accommodation, and travelled right along the beach from Rainbow to Double Island Point, taking in the amazing vista of the Coloured Sands and the ocean. Craig has so much knowledge of the area, and shared it with us in a very informative, and amusing way, which we really appreciated, and we felt very safe at all times. We stopped along the way to take photos and understand some of the indigenous culture of the area too. We then went on to Double Island and drove up to the lighthouse, which was very special, as not many are allowed up there these days. The views were spectacular, seeing whales, a huge pod of dolphins, manta rays, turtles, and could look back and see the Sunshine Coast on one side and Rainbow on the other. After, this we were taken into the National Park area for a cuppa and cake, etc. which was great, and came back through the bush, which was also very interesting, as Craig told us about the flora and fauna of the area. We saw so much, and it certainly reinforced our belief that we can travel to many countries overseas, but we still have the best country in the world, and this particular part is amazing and definitely worth a look! What better way to do it than with Craig! Thank you so much!
Kell
14 August 2020
Verified Best experience a must see
Absolutely fantastic, took my 82 yr old mum for a trip. Craig was so caring polite, educational 👍😁
ElaineL1962
22 August 2019
Verified The Best way to see Rainbow Beach
My husband and I did the half day afternoon tour. Greg is very friendly and knowledgeable and obviously loves the area and his job. Who wouldn’t love it? Bush, rainforest, beaches, whales, dolphins and the beautiful coloured sands all ticked of the list in 4 hours. We had afternoon tea at a lovely picnic spot in the bush. We were driven right up to the lighthouse at Double Island Point thanks to special access given to the tour company. From there we watched whales and dolphins and enjoyed the magnificent views. The coloured sands are amazing and driving along the beach was the perfect way to see them. We loved the artwork Greg did in the sand with the different colours. What an amazing afternoon and very good value. Thanks Greg!
Jacqueline D
10 April 2019
Verified Great Afternoon
We did the afternoon tour with our 6 year old granddaughter and shared the 4x4 with a lady and her grandson. It was a great drive through forest out to the beach. We drove right up to the top of the lighthouse, no walking 😀 The bay where we had a swim was beautiful and refreshing. Next was the coloured sands, where the driver got some different coloured sands and showed how handprints and pictures were made on the waters edge. The kids had a great time doing this. Last stop was for afternoon tea, where a goanna came strolling by. The afternoon was brilliant and if you don’t have a four wheel drive, this was a great way to see the coloured sands up close.
Jennifer L
9 March 2019
Verified Handprints in the sand
We loved this tour. The scenery was spectacular and the guide / driver very knowledgeable. The beaches are long, and clean. There is a surprisingly large volume of traffic, so if you get out and walk, be very, very careful as a big 4 x 4 will hurtle past at breakneck speed. We swam at Honeymoon Bay, enjoyed a trip up to the lighthouse from where we saw turtles and mantra rays, played with the coloured sands, and learnt about local history and National Park. It was all good fun and highly recommended.
Why choose
Surf and Sand Safaris Tours
Surf and Sand Safaris are Advanced Eco Certified and are the only tour operators with direct and extended vehicle access to protected Double Island Point Lighthouse, as well as the only operators who hold interactive coloured sand presentations as part of their tours.
Stopping at Double Island Point Lighthouse for stunning views, Honeymoon Bay for secluded lagoon swims and exploring Rainbow Beach and the spectacular Coloured Sands, our return tour showcases the unbelievable natural beauty of this amazing coastline.
Our half-day tours travel more than 50km of iconic beaches with our vehicles travelling on the sand, so you can soak in the scenery and wildlife.
At Surf and Sand Safaris, we believe our guides are the best in the business. They are passionate, funny, informative, and easy-going. Their knowledge of every facet of this tour has been developed over hundreds of hours of experience, and guests are free to ask questions and interact with them as they love sharing their knowledge and stories about this special part of Queensland
Our Vehicles
Surf and Sand Safaris specialise in small group touring
Our modern fleet of air-conditioned 4WD wagons offer a personalised experience, and where you will spend more time out than inside the vehicles, with freedom to explore, relax and experience the stunning locations
Our tours are suitable for guests with sufficient mobility to climb two or three steps, however will benefit from fittings and fixates to aid balance.
We are also suitable for guests who depend on the use of a wheelchair
About Surf & Sand Safaris
Surf & Sand Safaris is a family-owned and run business established in 1973 and is one of the longest operating 4WD tour companies in Queensland.
We are the only Rainbow Beach operator who is Advanced Eco Certified, with direct and extended vehicle access to protected Double Island Point Lighthouse