The story behind the name of Rainbow Beach is rooted in a beautiful Indigenous legend involving a spirit and the colourful sands of its cliffs.
The Legend of the Coloured Sands
According to the Indigenous tribe of the area, the idyllic beachside town acquired its name from a captivating tale. The story tells of a spirit of the gods who took the form of a rainbow. This powerful spirit was killed in battle. After his death, he crashed into the cliffs along the coastline. The impact of the spirit, in its rainbow form, coloured the sands of the cliffs, giving them the vibrant hues seen today and thus bestowing the name Rainbow Beach upon the location.
This origin story is a significant part of the local heritage, explaining the striking natural beauty of the coloured sands that are a famous feature of the area.
- Key elements of the legend:
- A spirit of the gods.
- Took the form of a rainbow.
- Killed in battle.
- Crashed into the cliffs.
- Coloured the sand, naming the beach.
This legend connects the unique geological feature of the coloured cliffs directly to the spiritual beliefs and history of the traditional custodians of the land.
