The Bunyip Hole is a waterhole a few kilometres out from Mulgildie along Three Moon Creek downstream from Cania Gorge.
Aboriginals tell the story of fearsome booming monsters that inhabit swamps and waterholes. Of Mulgildie’s waterhole, tales have emerged of strange noises, bubbling, churning water in the waterhole, and of cattle disappearing as they had a drink.
The area was known as ‘Devil Devil’ country, Aboriginal tribes and drovers passing through wouldn’t camp near the Bunyip Hole.
The legend of the Bunyip and the Bunyip Hole is represented at Mulgildie with the Bunyip Statue, depicted with holding a fish and the head of a cattle, typical of its lunch.
The area next to the waterhole looks down the length of it from an open bank without trees. There are some trees on one side that offer shade if a longer stop for a picnic is wanted.
The creek narrows and flows through a small weir beside the area where you can park by, and under the bridge crossed over to come to Bunyip Hole.
A water pump sits beside the waterhole where council trucks come to collect water. One came while we were there and we had a chat with him. He told us of an Aboriginal friend of his who doesn’t like to go there and won’t go at night. He offered him a thousand dollars to have a swim in the Bunyip Hole and he refused because he would be taken for sure.
We didn’t hear any strange bubbling noises or churning of water, other than the water flowing over the small weir near us. The council truck running the pump would probably have drowned out any noises if there were any.
It was a nice place to stop, especially backed up with the story of the bunyip and seeing the Bunyip Statue beforehand to set up the legend for my kids before going there.
After visiting the Bunyip Hole, consider a 5km detour afterwards to Anyarro Provisional School location.
To get there:
From Mulgildie, turn into Hughes St at the Bunyip Statue and the brown sign to Bunyip Hole. Follow Hughes St for 1.8km and turn left into Abercorn Rd, also with a brown sign. Continue on Abercorn Rd for 11km and turn left into Anyarro Rd. The Bunyip Hole is 450m on the left, just after crossing the bridge.
Cost: Free
Hours: Anytime
Toilets: No
Bins: No
Tables: No
Seating: No
Water: No
Food: No
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Pets: Yes, on leash
BBQ: No
Playground: No
