Location: Kinbombi Falls, Queensland
Event: Yowie Sighting
Date: 2020
Time: 11pm
[Male Witness]
I arrived at the camping spot mid afternoon, it was a 10-15 minute journey off the main highway towards Kilkivan heading west, I can't remember where exactly now.
The driveway into the campsite from the road was short and 5-6 camper vans were parked between some trees in the camping area, a non-potable water tank was also available at the site and that was it, nothing else.
I drove past them and found a spot at the end of the camping area away from the campers next to some long grass which led onto a thick bush going up into a small mountain.
A small pathway led to some area beside this entrance to the bush, and the only way out was back past the campers and out the driveway.
An hour or two passed and another solo traveller arrived in a Toyota work truck stacked with gear, it was rough and so was the driver who stepped out with his dog. He quietly acknowledged me and casually threw a pop up tent on the ground just a few metres away from my site then threw a silver tarp over the top of it, suddenly my small festival tent from Mitre 10 was not so inadequate anymore.
The campsite was very quiet, most travellers stayed in their campervans. I wandered down the path beside the bush and found a side pathway that went down the side of a hill to a look out area with visibility down towards a small waterfall and river passing through the crevasses towards the mountain areas. I sat down and took in the scenery and just really reflected on the last few months.
My attention kept making me look up towards where the bush started over the top of the hill looking down at the lookout. Not sure why but my thoughts were something could be watching me from up there, and I regularly looked up and scanned that area.
Around sunset I sat in my car for a bit then decided to go into the tent for the night and try and sleep.
I could hear the guy in the tent over in the next spot having issues with his dog. "what are you doing?" "get out of there", "what is wrong with you?" he was saying, the dog seemed to be very unsettled. It went quiet and I thought I heard the guy snoring or some bizarre sound that sounded like a death rattle. I've heard some guys in their sleep sound bad with nasal issues but this guy sounded like he was dying, it was really loud. Probably a heavy smoker for years I thought.
Around 11-12 PM everything was very quiet then suddenly there was a loud screeching/screaming sound coming from the long grass area close to me separating the campsite from the bush. It startled me quite a bit as it was a very loud shrieking sound that seemed to be coming from a decent sized animal or bird, it seemed like there was more than one and they were moving around.
It sounded like it/they were objecting to us for being there, it was definitely a challenge being sent our way. It continued for around 30 minutes and actually seemed to get closer at some point then move again. I was sure the campsite was about to be overrun.
I half expected the campers to be coming out and looking to see what was going on, but apart from the very loud screeching noises the campsite was eerily quiet. I did hear a camper close by say "what is that?" obviously they had a window open listening and then heard someone else in there say hush.
I contemplated unzipping the tent and peeping out but honestly I was terrified something would attack me in those vulnerable moments I poked my head out. I just lay there quite concerned and eventually it stopped after around another 60 minutes.
I was just settling into a semi-state of sleep around 1am-2am when I heard footsteps coming from the pathway that led to the lookout/bush areas. I did not recall anyone walking past in that direction earlier which put me on high alert. The steps did not sound like a heavy person, normal weight and gate.
They lingered close to my tent seemingly surveying the campsite without approaching the campervans. Then whoever it was walked over to my tent and stood right next to where my head lay, practically inches away. I went into a state of fear and could not move. I was so scared I even slowed my breathing so as not to make any noise. They just stood there for a good 2 minutes then moved away, stopped momentarily and carried on back towards the lookout/bush areas.
I was exhausted and very stressed so I just waited until sunrise. Morning came and I heard the old guy and his dog in the next spot quickly pack up and leave just on day break. Then I got up and made coffee. The sun was streaming through the trees and long grass and it looked absolutely beautiful, I just sat there processing what had just happened and looking at the stunning scenery.
My first night in the Australian bush solo was absolutely terrifying and beautiful at the same time. I left soon after and noted none of the campers had exited their vans.
It was a very strange experience.
Hope this information helps with your research now or at some stage in the future.
I appreciate your work, it is fascinating.
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