More than two and a half years after Belgian tourist Celine Cremer disappeared in the remote wilderness of Tasmania, a dramatic development has reignited hope for answers in one of Australia’s most baffling missing persons cases.

Celine Cremer, a 31-year-old art teacher from Belgium, was last seen on June 17, 2023, in the small town of Waratah in northwest Tasmania. She had been enjoying a solo road trip across the island state for several months, immersing herself in its stunning natural landscapes. That day, she drove her white Honda CRV to the Philosopher Falls trailhead, a popular but short bushwalk known for its scenic waterfall amid dense rainforest.

Intending a quick hike, Cremer parked her vehicle and set off. She never returned. Her friends raised the alarm on June 26 when she failed to board a scheduled ferry to mainland Australia. Police quickly located her abandoned car in the parking lot, but extensive initial searches—lasting weeks and involving helicopters, ground teams, and harsh winter conditions including snow and sub-zero temperatures—turned up nothing.

Authorities suspected Cremer had strayed off the marked track while trying to take a shortcut back to her car as daylight faded, possibly guided by a navigation app on her phone. Becoming disoriented in the thick, treacherous terrain of the Tarkine rainforest, she may have succumbed to exposure. Despite multiple follow-up searches, including the use of specialized detection methods in areas indicated by phone data, no trace was found.

The case went cold, leaving her family in Belgium devastated and desperate for closure.

Now, in December 2025, a privately organized search—led by friends who flew in from Belgium, local volunteers, and a private investigator—has yielded a major clue. On the very first day of their renewed effort near Philosopher Falls, a volunteer discovered Cremer’s Samsung mobile phone in bushland that had been thoroughly searched before.

The device, confirmed by Tasmania Police as belonging to Cremer, was found less than 100 meters from her last known GPS point. It will undergo forensic analysis to extract any remaining data that could reveal her final movements.

This discovery supports the long-held theory that she dropped her phone while attempting an off-track route and continued deeper into the dense forest without it. Tasmania Police, who had been supporting the private initiative, immediately announced they would formally join the search with trained rescue officers and volunteers once weather permits.

The find has brought mixed emotions: renewed optimism for locating Cremer and providing her family with answers, but also the grim reality that after so long in such unforgiving wilderness, the outcome is likely tragic.

Cremer’s story highlights the dangers of Tasmania’s remote trails, where even experienced hikers can quickly become lost in unpredictable weather and impenetrable bush. Her case has touched communities in both Australia and Belgium, with ongoing efforts underscoring the determination to bring closure to a mystery that has lingered for over 900 days.

As the search resumes, all eyes are on the rugged hills around Philosopher Falls, hoping this breakthrough finally unveils what happened to the adventurous young woman who vanished without a trace.