Tasmania, Australia — Nearly two and a half years after a Belgian tourist vanished in the rugged wilderness of Tasmania, a significant new development has captured the attention of authorities, friends and the global public. Celine Cremer, 31, disappeared from a bushwalking trail near Philosopher Falls in northwest Tasmania in June 2023. Her mobile phone — found recently in the same region — has prompted police to formally join an independent search effort, sparking renewed hope that long-sought answers may finally be within reach.

The Disappearance That Defied Discovery

On June 17, 2023, Cremer set out alone on what was described as a short walk in the dense terrain around Philosopher Falls, near Cradle Mountain. When she failed to return, concern quickly turned to confusion and alarm. Her white SUV was discovered parked near the trailhead, but exhaustive searches by police and rescue teams yielded no trace of Cremer herself.

Despite multiple search missions, including aerial scans and ground teams combing through thick bushland and rugged valleys, investigators were unable to find Cremer or confirm any firm evidence of her direction of travel after leaving the trail. Weather conditions in the area — known for rapid and severe changes, including sub-zero temperatures — further complicated efforts and made survival increasingly unlikely as time passed.

For more than two years, the case remained among those rare missing-person mysteries that seemed to defy all conventional leads: no confirmed sightings, no belongings found beyond the SUV, and no disturbances that pointed definitively to what happened next.

A Friend’s Mission and a Breakthrough on Day One

Earlier this month, Cremer’s closest friends embarked on a self-organized search — one that would take them from Belgium to the isolated forests of Tasmania. Four of her companions arrived at the site where she was last seen, coordinating with local volunteers and veteran searchers who know the terrain intimately.

On the very first day of this renewed effort, volunteer searcher Tony Hage made a discovery that stunned everyone involved: a mauve-coloured Samsung smartphone, unmistakably belonging to Cremer, was found in bushland that search teams had combed many times before.

The phone was located within 100 metres of Cremer’s last known GPS location, near thick vegetation and challenging terrain that may have hidden it from previous teams.

Police Step In: “We Believe We Can Find Her.”

Following the discovery of the phone, Tasmania Police announced they would formally join the search — something they had previously supported only in an advisory capacity. Inspector Andrew Hanson noted in a statement that the phone will now undergo forensic analysis to extract any data that might provide clues to Cremer’s final movements.

“Phone data, as well as the location it was found, supports our working theory that Celine may have used a mapping app to try to find a more direct route back to her car as daylight faded,” Hanson said. “We suspect she dropped her phone and continued on without it, possibly becoming disoriented in dense terrain.”

Officials emphasize that the case remains extremely difficult, given the treacherous environment and the amount of time that has passed. However, the discovery of the phone has changed the dynamics of the search for the first time in years. Police members, trained search and rescue personnel, and SES volunteers are coordinating efforts with the private search party — factoring in environmental conditions such as rain, hail or snow that can halt operations for safety reasons.

Why This Moment Matters

The new clue is significant for several reasons:

Location confirms a possible route: The phone’s GPS information aligns with a path away from the marked trail, supporting the theory Cremer may have left the main route in an attempt to shorten her return journey

Renewed focus on specific terrain: Police and volunteers can now conduct a more targeted search around the area where the phone was found and along the likely route Cremer may have taken.

Forensic phone data could reveal vital clues: Modern mobile phones store a vast amount of data — including location history, app usage and timestamps — all of which could provide insights into Cremer’s state of mind, route choices and last known actions.

Family and friends regroup with hope: For the first time in years, Cremer’s loved ones have a concrete lead — one that may either deliver answers or at least narrow the mystery surrounding her disappearance.

The Challenges Ahead

Despite this breakthrough, experts stress that recovery operations in Tasmania’s wilderness remain among the most demanding search environments in the world. Dense rainforest, steep ridges and rapidly changing weather pose persistent dangers to both searchers and those they are trying to locate. Past searches concluded that Cremer’s survival through the harsh conditions of a Tasmanian winter was highly unlikely, a grim reality that still frames the urgency and caution with which the renewed effort proceeds.

However, with a specific geographical clue in hand — and the mobilization of official resources working alongside volunteers — authorities say they are more confident than ever that significant discoveries could still be made. In the words of one Tasmania Police official: “We believe we can find her.”