In the heart of Tasmania’s vast Tarkine rainforest, a place locals approach with quiet reverence and unspoken fear, Belgian tourist Celine Cremer vanished without a trace in June 2023. Now, more than two years later, the discovery of her mobile phone on December 13, 2025, has reignited a desperate search—and underscored why this ancient wilderness is notorious for swallowing people whole.

Cremer, 31, an experienced solo traveler exploring Australia in her white Honda CR-V, was last seen on June 17, 2023, in the small town of Waratah. She set off for what should have been a straightforward one-hour return hike to Philosopher Falls—a scenic trail through lush rainforest to a cascading waterfall that appears deceptively harmless. Her car was found unlocked at the trailhead nine days later, with belongings inside, but extensive police searches involving helicopters, drones, and ground teams turned up nothing. Foul play was initially considered, but experts concluded survival in the harsh winter conditions—sub-zero temperatures, snow, and rain—would have been impossible beyond a few days.

The breakthrough came during a privately organized five-day search starting December 13, led by private investigator Ken Gamble and involving four of Cremer’s friends who flew from Belgium, plus local volunteers. Veteran searcher Tony Hage located her damp Samsung phone less than 100 meters from her last GPS ping, in an area previously scoured multiple times. Tasmania Police, who had supported but not led the effort, immediately rejoined formally.

Inspector Andrew Hanson stated phone data supports the theory that Cremer used a mapping app to leave the marked track for a perceived shortcut back to her car as daylight faded. “We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain,” he said. The phone is now undergoing forensic analysis for further clues. Bad weather delayed ground operations, but trained rescuers and SES volunteers are focusing on likely paths from the discovery site.

Gamble, a former Army Reserve member turned cybercrime specialist who previously worked on another Belgian disappearance in Australia (Theo Hayez), described the area as “unlike anything” he’s encountered. “It’s dark, dangerous, and deeply unsettling,” he told media. Step off the track—and the forest closes in: impenetrable undergrowth, sudden drops, poor visibility, and no signal swallow hikers in minutes. Locals whisper that people don’t just get lost in the Tarkine; they vanish, with the thick cool-temperate rainforest—one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere—claiming victims despite searches.

The Tarkine (takayna to Indigenous custodians) spans ancient Gondwanan rainforest with towering myrtles, huon pines, and ferns, but its beauty hides peril. Rapid weather shifts, disorienting terrain, and scavenging animals like Tasmanian devils make recovery challenging—even skeletal remains may not survive intact. While no specific cluster of disappearances is documented beyond Cremer’s high-profile case, the region’s reputation for “closing in” on off-track wanderers fuels unease. Philosopher Falls, named after 19th-century prospector “Philosopher” Smith, draws visitors but demands respect.

Cremer’s friends remain determined, with one calling the phone find “the biggest breakthrough.” Her mother, kept updated by police, seeks closure. As searches resume amid cautious hope, the case highlights Tasmania’s wilderness dangers: even short, popular walks can turn deadly.

In a forest where light struggles to penetrate, Cremer’s story warns adventurers: stay on the path, or risk vanishing into the green abyss.