Encounters Down Under

Australia’s Biggest UFO Celebration Returns to Cardwell in 2026Encounters Down Under is sitting down with Thea Ormonde, the founder and organiser behind the ever-growing festival phenomenon.The discussion will cover everything visitors can expect from the 2026 event, the continued growth of UFO and UAP interest across Australia, and why Cardwell has become one of the country’s most fascinating hubs for unexplained phenomena.The skies above Far North Queensland are set to come alive once again as the annual Australian UFO Festival returns to beautiful Cardwell in August 2026. Widely regarded as Australia’s only dedicated UFO festival, the event continues to attract researchers, experiencers, paranormal enthusiasts, families, and curious minds from across the country. The 2025 festival proved to be a huge success, bringing together speakers, experiencers, researchers, and the wider community for a weekend packed with cosmic conversation and entertainment. Highlights from the 2025 festival included:The popular C-Files Forum featuring guest speakers discussing UFO sightings, UAP investigations, paranormal encounters, and unexplained mysteries. Stories in the Stars, exploring Indigenous astronomy and cultural storytelling. Family-friendly market days, entertainment, costumes, rides, and community activities along the Cardwell foreshore. Live music and the fan-favourite Alien Invasion Party that brought locals and visitors together for a truly unforgettable atmosphere. Special discussions surrounding famous Australian UFO cases including the legendary Tully Nest incident and the mysterious Cardwell Lights. Set against the stunning backdrop of Tropical North Queensland, the Australian UFO Festival has become more than just an event — it’s a celebration of curiosity, mystery, community, and Australia’s rich UFO history.The truth may still be out there… but in 2026, Cardwell is the place to be.https://australianufofestival.com.au/Help Support the channel by purchasing some our amazing merch in the link below.https://encounters-down-under.square.site/s/shop

We have Simon Foster who is the Director for the Melbourne Science Fiction Film Festival and Director Zev Howley who is premiering his new documentary THE MAN WHO SAW THEM ARRIVE.Join us as we discuss this years Festival and what it has to offer and This amazing encounter that Colin Cameron witnessed. On January 1968, the quiet life of Melbourne resident Colin Cameron was shattered following a mysterious encounter on Kew Boulevard. Obsessed with uncovering the truth, Colin documented strange phenomena and shared his experiences with those closest to him as the events grew increasingly intense and dangerous. Told through the eyes of his cousin Andrea, who honours a promise to share his story, THE MAN WHO SAW THEM ARRIVE recounts Colin’s journey, presents first-hand accounts of Australia’s most famous UFO sightings—including Westall 1966—and provides insights from leading UFO researchers. A haunting exploration of mystery, memory, and unanswered questions hidden in Melbourne’s backstreets.For more information about the festival follow the link below https://www.sydneysciencefictionfilmf...This episode is available to watch via our YouTube channel, Don't forget to like and subscribehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVyXoI0RqM4&t=34s....Support the show by purchasing some of our awesome merchandise! Every purchase get a free bumper sticker!https://encounters-down-under.square....... Don't forget to follow us on facebook and other socials to keep upto date. / encountersdownunder

Redirected In Five SecondsLynette J Rule joins us, who has had a multitude of experiences through out her life. But nothing prepared her, when she encountered a strange green object that left strange traces on her camper, whilst traveling in outback Queensland.Lyn was quick enough to obtain samples to send off for forensic testing that still continues to be a mystery to this day.You can Tune into this episode via our YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oSOMM4zu5k&t=29syou can also grab a copy of Lyn's book here in the link below.https://www.amazon.com.au/Redirected-.......Support the show by purchasing some of our awesome merchandise!Every purchase gets a free bumper sticker!https://encounters-down-under.square.......Join our socials by searching Encounters Down Under Podcast or hit in the links below.  / encountersdownunder    / 283374013880475  

Welcome everyone to season 6 of Encounters Down Under.First off, a big thank you to all my guests, listeners and supporters of the show. None of this could be possible without you all, thank you again for the continued support. On our first episode, we are dedicating it to 60 years since the Tully nest encounter and we get to sit down with Shane Pennesi himself, who grew up on the farm where George had his encounter with a craft. Watch the episode here via our YouTube channelhttps://youtu.be/FS8mXKpiV7E?si=CAOmqU-KhIcBTka4You can also support the show by purchasing some of our merchandise via our online store. https://encounters-down-under.square.site/s/shop............At about 9.00am on the clear sunny morning of Wednesday January 19 1966, George Pedly, a banana farmer at Euramo, near Tully (north Queensland) was driving a tractor with conventional electrical ignition, across the property of a neighbouring cane farmer. The farm track along which he drove wound its way towards and thence alongside what is locally known as Horseshoe Lagoon. This contained an area of water about 6 feet deep and one hundred feet across at its widest point, a total area of a little more than an acre. The greater part of the water was covered with a thick growth of water reeds, the stems of these about half an inch in thickness that protruded above the water to an average height of two feet.As George approached the lagoon, he thought he detected an occasional misfire in the tractor motor. He leaned forward in his seat to listen, and almost immediately heard a distinct hissing noise which he thought momentarily was a tyre leaking air. Then, to his astonishment, a large saucer shaped object rose from the lagoon, ascended slowly to the level of the tree tops, tilted a little to one side, and then, in a fantastic burst of speed vanished in a south-westerly direction. Mr Pedley thought the object was about 25 feet in diameter, about 9 foot thick at the centre, silver-grey in colour and made no sound apart from the original hissing noise. The total duration of the sighting was about 4 seconds.Mr Pedley jumped from the tractor and ran across to the lagoon. As he pushed his way through the 6 or 7 foot tall sword grass along the waters edge, he immediately saw a large circular area of slowly rotating water that was completely devoid of reeds. He further saw near the edge of the still slowly swirling water a patch of giant water couch grass, about a square yard of which had been clipped short, and the clippings removed. After a few minutes he returned to his tractor, started the motor, and went on his way. When questioned later, Mr Pedley was certain about restarting the motor, but could not remember whether he switched it off, it stalled or simply cut out when he left it, both of which were considered highly unlikely. Later that morning he came back past the lagoon and on further inspection saw for the first time the floating mass of reeds that had obviously come to the surface since his absence. The reeds were radially distributed in a noticeably clockwise manner, and he was emphatic that at that time the reeds in the nest, as it came to be called, were quite green, as were all the other reeds in the lagoon.At about mid-afternoon, he returned to the lagoon with Mr Albert Pennisi, the owner of the lagoon and surrounding property. Mr Pennisi waded out to the floating mass of reeds, and found that it was possible to swim beneath the mass, the water being quite clear and free from obstruction. But its most incredible feature, and one easily seen in photographs taken during the next 48 hours, was the amazingly clear impression of the UFO left on the surface of the nest. The outer perimeter was sharply down-thrusting, as if by a huge inverted saucer, with a perfectly circular central protruberance about 6 or 8 feet in diameter and possibly 18 inches deep.More can be found via UFO Research queenslands website at https://uforq.org/the-tully-saucer-nest/

Sheryl from UFO Research Queensland inc, joins us on the show who is apart of Australia's longest running UFO research organisation that are still covering reports, and investigating into the phenomena. Be sure the leave a like and share!You can check out UFO Research Queensland Inc website to find the latest reports and previous investigations here in the link below. https://uforq.org/Or join them on their Facebook   / uforesearchqueensland  .......Check out our online merch store and help represent the podcast!https://encounters-down-under.square....Join our socials by searching Encounters Down Under Podcast or hit in the links below.   / encountersdownunder    / 283374013880475  #sherylGottschall #UFOResearchQueenslandInc #UFO #Alien #UFOCommunity #UAP

Abbey joins us who is a psychology (honours) student at Central Queensland University, interested in researching extraterrestrial beliefs.She helped put a survey together for the every day people in Australia, to see their views on the Extra-terrestrial beliefs & conspiracies, to see if they had any forms of encounters or experiences.We find out the thesis and end results into this research from a universities perspective.You can watch the youtube episode in the link belowhttps://www.youtube.com/live/z0bsDqFEbZk?si=kxGrcxyH9DPT-mO5....................You can find Encounters Down Under on all the major socials but make sure to like and follow the Encounters Down Under Podcast Facebook page where we live stream most of our interviews. This gives listeners the opportunity to ask our guest questions regarding their encounter in the comments.https://www.facebook.com/EncountersDo...Also join our community group for updates about the show and general discussions about episodes and more.https://www.facebook.com/groups/28337...Show your support for the show by grabbing yourself some awesome merchandise from our online store with a great variety of quality products to choose from.https://encounters-down-under.square.site/s/shopFind more unique designs in the link below from our fellow designerhttps://imaginvibes.com/collections/encounters-down-under?fbclid=IwAR2Jo4G3RRBP7Rw3MBo2vFwLonCCdvSCMI00YZXiOKwmGW_eX9fE8W6suIg_aem_AajmK6ShB5GRqkZJJwSPcg3Yi9BC7PjbMUOy6obYnxgEAipow3MABsYeBv2KbUFAokziO_8uHXMClIOJ9EhuMJ_S