Carlo Sand Blow

If ever you visit Rainbow Beach, Queensland, can I suggest you take a short detour to the Carlo Sand Blow. Most people visit Rainbow beach to go on the ferry to Fraser Island. But there is heaps you can do at Rainbow Beach itself. Rainbow beach is 71 km from Gympie off the Bruce Highway. I suggest if you want to see it before it changes forever, now is the time, because the traditional feel of the beach side town is being destroyed by the building of numerous large white units close to the beach. Shortly it will be just another Noosa.

But back to the Carlo Sand Blow. The Carlo sand blow is a huge sand dune kept open by constant wind. Great fun to walk over - so long as you are cautious and don't try to get too close to the cliff edge above the beach. The Carlo Sand Blow is accessed by a short walk - about 500m down a well define gravel path with a slight rise and a series of steps through surrounding bushland.

The sand dune itself is worth seeing, but if you're lucky you will also see para gliders taking advantage of the steady winds. There were three there on the day we visited and you can see a white chute in the middle of the picture below. There is a sign saying para gliders are not to land amongst the swimming section of the beach, but I imagine if you are landing at speed you don't always have a choice of where you end up - typical government red tape - please don't crash here!


You can try sliding down the sides of the dunes, but I don't know if the climb is worth it, my calves are still paying for it today. But if your a health nut and want a great work out for your legs - climb the steep side of the dunes bare foot. I personally like the views the best - the blue sea, the cool wind, well worth the trip - though I suggest you take a bottle of water - it gets hot. The picture below gives you an idea of the scale.