Illawarra area.

[MrHead181]

Hi people how are you all??just asking if anyone is keen to do a little trip in the Illawarra area?????just pm me and i will get back to you.
Take care
Tony

[sapere aude]

Hi Tony.

Have only just seen your post so guess it's a bit late. Though I'm not from the area at all, I recently had the chance to have a look around there. Thought you might be interested. I would have to say I am not a complete believer either, but open minded as far as yowies go. I have never seen or encountered one, but find the subject fascinating.

I chose to have a look around Mt. Kembla as it seems to have a bit of yowie history and I have read what seems some credible enough reports over the years. One of those places it seems. Though a yowie expedition wasn't the main point of my trip, eventually I didn't have much time and other business out of the way headed to the mountain just as dusk was setting in. I continued up past the lookout on the track that winds up over the escarpment. Once over the top the vegetation seemed to open up a bit more into timber and fern type country, as opposed what appeared thick jungle on the way up. Then made my way back, stopping every so often to explore a bit.

Found plenty of tracks coming out of the bush, probably from the local wildlife. As I made my way back I ventured a little bit further bush. Was careful not to go too far as it was dark and wet after recent rain, as well as very thick bush. I felt leaches and the possibility of getting lost in the dark more of a worry than yowies.

I did find a few deer wondering around, through the “eyeshine” when pointing the torch at noises and was amazed how close I could get to them. All I had was a maglite, a small led torch and my dslr camera just in case (it usually goes with me everywhere ). I got some practice at slowly creeping up and taking some pics under torchlight and various camera settings etc. Didn't turn out too well. One thing that really did stand out while looking around was the number of saplings that were simply snapped of around waist height or below, either side of some of the tracks that I guessed the local creatures use through the bush. I mean 4 inch thick and simply snapped off and left laying on their side. Though perhaps it's normal, some natural cause,storms etc. A lot of stick type formations also. I only mention this as they are said to be indicators of yowie behaviour. Would have been good to have a look in the daytime, to have a better look around and get some pics. The only type of footprints I could make out were probably deer, though plenty of roo/wallaby droppings around the place.

A strange thing for me was one fire trail I went to explore. Strangely I found I baulked at walking up this fire trail. I have no great fear of the bush, no problems with it being dark, noises etc. yet something didn't feel right. Though I don't really wish to dramatise, as there was nothing to obviously make it any different, but I listened to that feeling and simply didn't go.

I stopped on the way back to get some night time pics from the lookout. Though the moon was out it was blocked by the mountain, just about pitch black and completely still. I quietly set up tripod etc, got some good pics. Stayed there for a while. After about 20 mins I could hear dogs barking down the road towards “civilisation” in the distance. After a few more minutes something came crashing up the gully behind me from the same direction, which made quite a racket and seemed to be snapping a lot of branches as it went. It completely stopped 100 metres or so away. Though it could have been anything, possibly deer, the undergrowth is thick and would be hard to get through without making noise. A little while later I heard something also moving on the opposite side of the road, just inside the tree line at the end of the lookout, then a “call” from the same area that, I joke not, sounded almost human. Though I didn't seriously consider yowies. Probably owl or lyrebird etc though I simply sat quietly and listened for some time. Nothing else except the noises and rustles you expect to hear on a still night.

Eventually it was time to go so I quietly/slowly made my way over to where I last heard the sound. Shone the torch and had a good look around, before packing up and leaving.

I would recommend the area. Though I would also recommend a good look around in daylight first to get a bit of orientation. I also would like to point out I know absolutely nothing first hand about yowies.

[Mike Williams]

Hi people how are you all??just asking if anyone is keen to do a little trip in the Illawarra area?????just pm me and i will get back to you.
Take care
Tony

Are you the same Tony that had the interesting experience up in the blue mts recently(footsteps and rock throwing) and videotaped yourself making your way back to the car at night.
If you are..when are you going back..?

Mike