The existence of hairy human like creatures has been reported all over the world, and Australia is not remiss in having its own version of the elusive creature.  Yowies were first described by the Australian Aborigines to the first white settlers, and the first reported sighting by white men was published in a newspaper in Sydney in 1790.

There is said to be two types of Yowie living in forests of Australia.  The first, a large beast standing between 6 and 10 feet tall, and a smaller variety which grows to be 4 to 5 feet high.

They are generally said to be covered in 2-4 inch long hair, but their faces are bare.  Their hair is described as anything from brown, grey or even a reddish hue.  They have been sighted in every state in Australia, but the largest volume of sightings seems to be on the southeast seaboard in various mountain regions.  Witnesses report a strong smell of urine and faeces accompany the Yowie. Although individual sightings of the Yowie are rare and tend to filter into the cities from the Bushlands some days after the event - a well attested to encounter was recorded in 1982 when three Bushmen, a farmer, a fencer and a saddler all reported seeing the Yowie in the area of Mt Tamborine, near Logan City Queensland.

Yowies are said to stay clear of humans but there have been a few instances where people have been 'chased' by the creatures.

A forum discussion on the subject of Yeti's, Yowie's and Bigfoot can be found here