Double Island Point, Cooloola Coast, The Great Sandy National Park

Double Island point is located just south of Rainbow Beach and is only accessible by 4wd. Getting to Rainbow beach is easy, it is a good 20 minute drive on a sealed road from Tin Can Bay. From Rainbow Beach access to Double Island Point is via the beach.

Over the years erosion has exposed as many as 72 different coloured sands in the sandy cliffs that measure up to 200metres in height along Rainbow beach. The colours have been produced from a combinations of iron oxide and leached vegetable dyes. It is thought that the sands have been forming since the last ice age.

An Aboriginal legend tells of a spirit which took the form of a rainbow. Entering into a fight over a young woman the spirit fell onto the cliffs infusing the sands with its polychromatic splendour.

For keen surfers it is claimed that Double Island Point has the longest wave break in Australia.

The Double Island Point Lighthouse has been operating since its completion in 1884.

Originally the light was to be constructed only halfway up the point but upon closer inspection it was realised that the light would not be visible toward the North. It was decided that a more powerful light at the top of the point would be more effective.

The light was first fitted with an oil burner and revolving panels.

In 1980, bulk fuel tanks were installed and the light was converted to 2450v AC power, and in 1992, the light was converted to solar power and demanned.

The Lighthouse cottage

Just off the point is Wolf Rock, rated one of the top 10 dive spots in Australia. The area is teaming with trevally, cod, coral trout, perch, mackerel, batfish, leopard sharks, mantra rays and loads of grey nurse sharks. Wolf Rock can be seen in the photo just below the horizon. It was declared a protected area in 2003 and fishing is not permitted. The Queensland government considers Wolf Rock to be Queensland’s most important habitat area for the critically endangered grey nurse shark.

The views from the summit are spectacular. Marine life, particularly dolphins, whales (in season), turtles, sharks, sting rays, manta rays, dugongs and fish can be seen below on a good day. Below you can see the bad weather moving in again.

We were very fortunate and had a break in the rain, so we were able to walk up to the summit but as we got back to the beach, the heavens opened again.

Double Island Point was named by Captain Cook on 18 May, 1770. He noted in his journal: “I have named … Double Island Point from its figure … the point itself is of such unequal height that it looks like two small islands laying under the land.”