The Best Sandboarding Spots In Queensland, So You Can Hoon Down The Dunes
Whether you can’t last longer than an hour at the beach or consider yourself a fish, the adrenaline rush at these epic Queensland sandboarding spots are worth the trip.
The joy you experience from sandsurfing is so pure that it’s almost like being a kid again. And while Queensland is famous for its picture-perfect islands and beaches, it’s also packing some ace spots to hit the sandy slopes.
We’re including places where you can enjoy both sandboarding and sand tobogganing. Technically, sandboarding is where you’re strapped into a board and stand up as you ride the dune down (like snowboarding), meanwhile sand tobogganing is the more casual option, where you can ride the sandy wave seated or on your tummy.
Here are five places for the best of cheap thrills.
#1 Moreton Island
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Mulgumpin means ‘place of sand hills’ to the indigenous people of Quandamooka (Moreton Bay and its islands). It’s no surprise, really – Moreton Island is the third largest sand island globally with one of the largest sand dunes in the world, Mt Tempest. This island is a sandboarding mecca.
There are three main sandboarding destinations on the island, all with perfect white dunes: Little Sand Hills (great for beginners) and Big Sand Hills and The Desert for adrenaline junkies. You can hit speeds of up to 60 kilometres an hour down Desert Hill. But that’s not all you can do on this island, there’s quad biking and shipwrecks to snorkel, too.
#2 North Stradbroke Island
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Ah, Straddie. This popular holiday spot with Brisbanites is the second largest sand island in the world. This local favourite is teeming with so many epic spots for a sand surf that you can’t go wrong. There are tours that can take you to the best spots – including an extremely fast ‘monster’ slope – and similarly to nearby Moreton Island, there’s also plenty of other activities to get into.
The Quandamooka refer to the island as Minjerribah, meaning ‘place of many mosquitos’, something you want to keep in mind when packing.
#3 Fraser Island
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Fraser Island lays claim to the whitest sand in the world (and some seriously stunning lakes), but that’s not all – this UNESCO world heritage site is also the largest sand island in the world. Yep, Queensland has the top three.
Being the biggest, Fraser Island boasts massive sand blows that line the coast and they’re truly a natural wonder. Hot sandboarding spots include Waddy Point, Orchid Beach and Sandy Cape. While here, it’s recommended to get around by 4WD, making this island paradise twice the fun.
The national park that spans almost all of Fraser Island has been renamed “K’gari,” pronounced “gurri,” which translates to ‘paradise’ in the local Butchulla. This island is a very special place.
#4 Carlo Sand Blow, Rainbow Beach
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Just south of Fraser Island on the Sunshine Coast in the aptly named Great Sandy National Park, the stunning coastline surrounding Rainbow Beach has more than crystal blue waters and breathtaking views – it’s also packing a sweet spot to sandboard.
Known as Carlo Sand Blow, a walk through bushland from Rainbow Beach will deliver you to a sweeping expanse of golden dunes. Be sure to check out the nearby Double Island Point for some seriously gorgeous views (like the above).
#5 Birdsville
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Queensland also has a slice of the Outback, which is where you’ll find Big Red. Just 35kms from Birdsville, a small town with a population of just over 100 people, Big Red marks the eastern edge of the famous Simpson Desert.
There are 1,140 parallel dunes in the Simpson Desert’s Munga-Thirri National Park with Big Red being the first. Ascend 40m and be treated with a glorious sunrise or sunset as well as views of a spectacularly unique landscape. You’ll definitely need a 4WD for this one (or jump on a tour) but once there, people have been known to use boogie boards, snow sleds and even sturdy pieces of cardboard to ride their way down.
(Lead Image: Instagram /@dmatosalvez)
