Rainbow Bay Beach

Rainbow Bay Beach sits at Coolangatta, on the southern tip of the Gold Coast near the famous Snapper Rocks and the NSW border. A beautiful, much-loved beach, it's one of the coast's most beloved spots — a gorgeous, sheltered stretch of golden sand and clear water, framed by the headland and renowned for its excellent, gentle surf and stunning setting.

The appeal is that combination of a gorgeous, protected beach and a spectacular setting: calm, clear water that's great for swimming, lovely sand for relaxing, and world-famous surf breaks (Snapper Rocks and the Superbank) right nearby. With its beauty, its sheltered aspect and the buzz of the surf scene, it's a genuine highlight of the southern Gold Coast.

With a near-perfect 4.9 rating from nearly 200 reviews, it's clearly a much-loved beach. It's free and open year-round, but conditions, surf, parking and facilities vary, and it gets busy over weekends, holidays and summer, so it's worth checking conditions before you go — and taking sun protection and swimming between the flags when patrolled — while enjoying the beautiful Rainbow Bay.