Yowie Park, Kilcoy and Cruice Park Rest Area, Woodford, QLD

On our way to Bunya Mountains National Park, Crows Nest National Park or Benarkin State Forest we often stop at Yowie Park on the D’Aguilar Highway in Kilcoy. A Yowie is a mythical ape-like creature found in Australia. There is a wooden statue of a Yowie at the front of the park. 

Edit July 2020: The wooden Yowie below has since been replaced.

Yowie in Yowie Park, Kilcoy

 Coff & Co Bakery, just across the road, is a popular bakery with good reviews.

Coff & Co Bakery, Kilcoy

There is plenty of parking in front of the park and usually room for rigs towing caravans or trailers. There are toilets and picnic tables in the park overlooking a lake.

Waterbirds frequent the lake. This trip we saw Plumed Whistling-Duck, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Pacific Black Duck and Australian White Ibis.

Plumed Whistling-Ducks

Wandering Whistling-Duck

Pacific Black Duck, Plumed Whistling-Ducks and an Australian White Ibis 

If you have the time, there is a pleasant walk around the lake and out to another lake. The second lake has a small island on it, such islands are usually good places to sight birds but on this trip the island was empty and the only bird we saw around the lake was an Egret.

Lake behind the Yowie Park Lake, Kilcoy

Egret

Behind the second lake is beautiful Kilcoy Creek. On our approach we could hear something plopping into the creek from the banks but we couldn’t see if it was turtles or possibly water monitors.The walking track continues for some distance along Kilcoy Creek beside the Hopetoun Sports Field.

Kilcoy Creek

On our way home from our travels we often stop at Cruice Park rest area, 21 km east of Kilcoy on the Kilcoy- Beerwah Rd, just past the turn off from the D’Aguilar Highway to Woodford. Cruice Park has excellent toilets, picnic tables, bins and a playground. This is a popular spot for caravans and campervans to overnight, as free camping is allowed in the rest area for up to 20 hours.

Cruice Park

Cruice Park, Free Camping

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