National Park Odyssey: Inskip Point Recreation Area, QLD. Part 1: Searys Creek and Rainbow Beach.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Inskip Point Recreation Area, QLD. Part 1: Searys Creek and Rainbow Beach.

Beach in front of our campsite at Inskip Point.

Although I have been to the Great Sandy National Park, Rainbow Beach, Inskip Point and Fraser Island, there were still a couple of things I hadn't done in the area. I have long wanted to see The Carlo Sandblow and Lake Poona so in May we spent a couple of nights camping at beautiful Inskip Point Recreation Reserve with the specific aim of ticking these two attractions off our bucket list.

On the drive in from Gympie we stopped at Searys Creek Day Use Area. This is a popular area for swimming in the warmer months but was deserted while we were there. The water in Searys Creek is very clear and reminds me of Eli Creek on Fraser Island. There is a car park with about ten spaces directly off Rainbow Beach Road but it isn't suitable for RVs or long vehicles. There is a toilet block and information sign at the car park and it is only a short Class 2 walk along a boardwalk to the creek and swimming areas. We saw and heard many birds along the boardwalk.

Boardwalk at Searys Creek

A catfish visible in the clear waters of Searys Creek.

Welcome Swallow at Searys Creek

There are several camping areas in the Inskip Point Recreation Area. We choose the M.V. Sarawak Camping Area as it is convenient for walking to the tip of Inskip Point and the birding areas we are interested in. We set up our tent in a campsite with dappled shade facing the beach. Vehicles are not allowed on the beach fronting the campgrounds which makes it a safe place for families. People camping near us pushed their dinghy out by hand and reeled in an enormous tuna.

Our campsite at Inskip Point.

After a quick set up followed by lunch we drove to the car park at the end of Cooloola Drive in Rainbow Beach and walked out to the Carlo Sandblow. This is a pleasant walk past magnificent Scribbly Gums. There are a few steps but the return walk is only about 1.2 km.

Scribbly Gums along the walk to the Carlo Sandblow.

Orange Ringlet

Words fail to describe just how stunning the sheer scale of the sandblow is and I highly recommend putting this easy to see natural wonder on your bucket list.

View of Double Island Point from the Carlo Sandblow.

We decided to take a walk along Rainbow Beach to the Coloured Sands as it was low tide.
We parked in Wide Bay Esplanade near the Surf Club and walked down the stairs to the beach.

Tempting offers at the Rainbow Beach Surf Club.

Walking at low tide turned out to not be the best decision because the Mudlo Rocks become passable by vehicles at low tide and although the 4WD's didn't cause us any problem there was a motor bike ripping backwards and forwards doing donuts in the sand alongside us as we walked. A better strategy for walking might be to go at half tide. We still managed to see a few shore birds.