Rainbow Beach - Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia

When people talk about Rainbow Beach, they're not focused on Rainbow Beach. That's because Rainbow primarily serves as a gateway to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world at almost 110 KM long and an average of 14 kilometers wide. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1992, Fraser is a gem, with beautiful freshwater lakes and dramatic scenery.

Rainbow Beach and Fraser are approximately 250 kilometers north of Brisbane. The most popular way to tour Fraser Island is by renting a 4WD truck, either by yourself or as part of a larger group. These tours generally go out for two nights. One of the best parts of your trip will be driving the truck. I actually learned to drive a manual transmission on Fraser Island!

Fraser has over 100 dune lakes, beautiful desert oasis' that are some of the cleanest in the world. The most famous is Lake McKenzie, blessed with sand that is nearly pure silica. Don't be surprised to see people rubbing the sand over watch faces and jewelry; the non abrasive silica works well as a cleaner. The sand also exfoliates the skin.

The 75 mile beach on the east coast of Fraser Island isn't as popular for swimming, due to dangerous currents and plentiful tiger sharks. Other highlights include Champagne Pools, a rock outcropping constantly hit with bubbly ocean overflow, and Indian Head, a vantage point from which you can usually spot schools of sharks knifing through the waves. Another popular spot is the Maheno shipwreck, right on the beach. You can walk through the wreck, but keep an eye out for sharp and rusty edges.

If you have some extra time in Australia, Fraser Island is a great getaway for a few days. It’s sure to provide some of your favorite memories.

Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia

Noosa is one of our top beach towns in Australia. It's a perfect blend of tourist and local, hip yet laid back. The beach also offers great surfing and body boarding. What really makes this beach shine, however, is the town itself, a charming oasis on the sometimes overcrowded East Coast of Australia. Too cool, you say? Listen on. It is probably the beach you've been searching for.

Noosa is about an hour north of Brisbane, and almost directly in the middle of the continent. This spot on the continent ensures beautiful weather year-round, with water temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius (or 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit). That means pleasant water whenever you visit. And as you can see, the surf doesn't really know what temperature it is, so it will be here just waiting for you to jump in.

There's no shortage to activities in Noosa. If you're not into surfing, you can rent a fishing rod, or rip through the ocean on a jet-ski. If you want to navigate the ocean under your own power, take out a canoe. Admire some of the beautiful million dollar houses on the Noosa River, only a short drive from the town.

For the more shopping inclined, Noosa will be a field day. Window shop at some of the boutique stores. There are also numerous high-end fashion stores, along with great surf shops. There are also a ton of great restaurants, including some spectacular high-end options if you have a few extra dollars to spend. In particular, Hastings Street is your best option, with sun splashed outdoor dining. Noosa also has a great cooking school, if you're more into doing it yourself.

Nature abounds in and around Noosa, as well. Nearby Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, and home to a number of Australia's most beautiful beaches. One of our all time favorite days in Australia was spent touring the Australia Zoo, created by famed Croc hunter Steve Irwin. Pet a koala, or view one of the incredible crocodile shows. Whatever you do, you really can’t go wrong in this beach paradise.