Rainbow Beach trends south-southwest for 2.5 kilometres from the dolerite rocks at Middle Rock Point to the sedimentary rocks at Bonny Hills. The beach is backed by a foredune, then two kilometres long Duchess Gully Creek that drains across the southern end of the beach, where it is called Little Vinegar Creek, linking with a second small creek.
Ocean Drive skirts around the beach with access only available at Middle Rock, where there are no facilities, while Bonny Hills has the surf club, a park, picnic area, and two caravan parks. Rainbow Beach is patrolled during school holidays from October through April.
