Why the Mysterious Yowie Still Fascinates Me
- Deb Carr
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
I have always been fascinated by the unexplained—fthat continue to puzzle us. Whether it's strange lights in the sky, ancient mysteries or stories of creatures that shouldn't exist, I've always found myself wanting to know more.
One of those mysteries is Bigfoot, or Sasquatch as it's known in North America. Here in Australia, we know them as Yowies. So why does the mysterious Yowie fascinate me?
I can't say I've ever seen one and, to be honest, I don't think I'd want to. But I do believe I've had three experiences over the years that left me wondering if there was something unusual in our bush.
The first happened while I was walking on a remote property near Coolongolook on the NSW Mid North Coast. Everything was peaceful until I heard a sound unlike anything I'd ever heard before. I still can't describe it, but my immediate thought was, "Yowie." Whether it was or not, I wasn't about to investigate. I turned around and left very quickly.
On two separate occasions, at exactly the same location in Myall Lakes National Park, I pulled my car over simply to enjoy the silence and soak up the atmosphere. Both times I heard loud, unfamiliar noises coming from the bush. They weren't sounds I recognised from any native animal, and they were enough to send me straight back to the car. Even today, whenever I drive past that stretch of road, I can't help glancing towards the trees.
Another experience involved my daughter's Border Collie while walking along a quiet country track near Nabiac. Anyone who has owned a Border Collie knows they usually have endless enthusiasm for exploring. This day was different. Without warning, he stopped, turned around and made it abundantly clear that he had no intention of continuing up the track. Whatever had caught his attention was enough to convince him to leave, and I decided to trust his instincts.
Were these encounters with a Yowie? I honestly don't know. There are perfectly reasonable explanations for each experience. But they certainly left an impression on me.
Over the years I've watched every episode produced by the Yowie Hunters Australia team and spent hours reading the eyewitness reports in their database. What strikes me isn't whether every story is true—it's the sincerity of the people telling them. You can often hear genuine emotion and sometimes fear in their voices. Most have nothing to gain by sharing their experiences and, if anything, open themselves to scepticism and ridicule.
The same can be said for Sasquatch Chronicles, a podcast that has captivated listeners around the world for years. Episode after episode features ordinary people describing encounters that they often kept private for years before deciding to speak publicly. Whether every account is accurate is impossible to know, but it's difficult to dismiss the sheer number of consistent stories from people with nothing obvious to gain.
No discussion about Sasquatch would be complete without mentioning the famous Patterson–Gimlin film. Captured in Northern California in 1967 by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, the short piece of footage appears to show a large, hair-covered figure walking across a creek bed before briefly looking back at the camera. More than half a century later it remains one of the most analysed and debated pieces of footage in cryptozoology. Supporters believe it shows an unknown primate, while sceptics argue it was simply a person in a costume. Despite decades of analysis using increasingly sophisticated technology, no consensus has ever been reached.
Perhaps that's why the mystery continues to endure.
I don't know whether Yowies or Sasquatch exist. What I do know is that our world still contains vast wilderness, countless undiscovered species and many unanswered questions. Keeping an open but questioning mind seems far more interesting than believing we already know everything there is to know.
As for me, I'll continue enjoying the stories from the safety of my lounge room. If I ever hear those strange sounds in the bush again, you'll probably find me doing exactly what I did before—heading quickly back to the car!
Footnote
As I was writing this article, I was reminded that my fascination with mysterious creatures may not have been mine alone. My late brother, who sadly passed away in 1998, painted this incredible artwork many years ago. It was only after his death that I really appreciated just how much the mystery of Sasquatch had captured his imagination too. Looking at his painting now, I can't help but wonder what inspired him. It has become a special reminder that a sense of curiosity and wonder can connect us in ways we don't always recognise at the time. The painting is the one at the top of this story.
