In the misty, impenetrable depths of Tasmania’s ancient rainforest, a renewed search for missing Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer reached fever pitch this week—only to grind to a sudden, heartbreaking halt. What began with elation and “quiet confidence” among volunteers quickly turned to devastation as breakthrough discoveries forced a painful suspension of operations. Not because hope had faded, but because the finds were so significant, so tantalisingly close to unlocking the mystery, that they demanded careful forensic scrutiny before searchers could press on.

Celine Cremer, a vibrant 31-year-old art teacher from Belgium, vanished without a trace in June 2023 during what should have been a short, scenic bushwalk to Philosopher Falls near the tiny mining town of Waratah. For over two and a half years, her family and friends have endured an agonising limbo, clinging to the faintest glimmers of hope. Now, in December 2025, a privately organised search—led by determined friends who flew in from Europe and supported by private investigator Ken Gamble—has uncovered her mobile phone, a water bottle, and a makeshift poncho fashioned from a garbage bag. These items, found in dense bushland just hundreds of metres off the track, suggest Celine was desperately trying to shelter from the elements. But as police step in to forensically examine the evidence, the ground search has been paused, leaving everyone involved in a torturous wait. They were so close—yet answers feel frustratingly out of reach once more.

This latest chapter in one of Australia’s most perplexing missing persons cases raises haunting questions: Did Celine become disoriented in the fading light? Was she caught in sudden winter rain, forcing her to improvise shelter? And why, after extensive official searches in 2023, have these crucial items only surfaced now? As her loved ones hold their breath for forensic results, the rainforest guards its secrets a little longer.

abc.net.au

abc.net.au

9news.com.au

A Free Spirit’s Australian Adventure: Who Was Celine Cremer?

Celine Cremer was the epitome of a modern adventurer—independent, artistic, and drawn to the wild beauty of the world. Born and raised in Belgium, she worked as an art teacher, inspiring young minds with her creativity and passion. In late 2022, craving new horizons, she embarked on a working holiday visa in Australia. For months, she immersed herself in Tasmanian life, picking up shifts at a French restaurant in Coles Bay while exploring the island’s rugged landscapes.

Friends describe her as “fun-loving, responsible, and deeply connected to nature.” She was an experienced hiker, familiar with Tasmania’s unpredictable weather, and always cautious—sharing plans, checking in, and respecting the wilderness. “Celine was not reckless,” her childhood friend Justine Ropet told reporters. “She loved the outdoors, but she knew its dangers.” Photos from her travels show a smiling woman with windswept hair, posing atop kunanyi/Mount Wellington or along pristine beaches, radiating joy and freedom.

By June 2023, Celine had been in Tasmania for six months. She planned to wrap up her adventure with a ferry trip from Devonport to mainland Australia on June 21. But she never boarded the Spirit of Tasmania. When friends raised the alarm on June 26, police quickly located her white Honda CRV parked at the Philosopher Falls trailhead. It had been there since at least June 20, perhaps earlier. Inside: her belongings, untouched. No note, no signs of struggle. Just an eerie silence.

The trail to Philosopher Falls is marketed as an easy one-hour return walk—a gentle path through lush myrtle forest to a cascading waterfall. It’s popular with tourists, yet deceptively wild off-track. Tasmania’s north-west is part of the Tarkine rainforest, one of the world’s largest temperate rainforests, teeming with ancient huon pines, dense undergrowth, and sudden creeks that swell in rain.

abc.net.au

abc.net.au

parks.tas.gov.au

The Vanishing: A Timeline of Desperation

June 17, 2023: Celine is last seen in Waratah, stocking up on supplies. She drives to Philosopher Falls, parks, and sets off around 2:18 PM—captured later via phone data.

June 20-26: Her car remains untouched. She misses her ferry booking.

June 26: Friends report her missing.

June 27: Police find her vehicle. Extensive searches begin—helicopters, drones, ground teams, swiftwater rescuers.

July 10: Official search suspended. Medical experts advise survival unlikely in frigid winter conditions—hypothermia sets in rapidly without proper gear.

Subsequent efforts, including cadaver dogs, yield nothing. Foul play is ruled out early; misadventure seems the tragic explanation.

For years, silence. Celine’s mother in Belgium and friends like Justine endure birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries without closure. Memorials spring up at the trailhead; the small community of Waratah adopts her as one of their own.

Then, in December 2025, hope reignites. Friends fly from Belgium to join a five-day private search organised with investigator Ken Gamble. Gamble, known for digital forensics, accesses enhanced phone data revealing Celine veered off-track, possibly using Google Maps for a shortcut as daylight faded.

Day one: Miracle. A volunteer finds her Samsung phone, buried in leaf litter about 300 metres off the path in previously searched bushland.

Tasmania Police immediately join, confirming the device is hers.

Days follow: A Tasmanian-brand water bottle (expiry suggesting 2023 purchase, matching her workplace) and a black garbage bag—hole cut for head, likely improvised rain protection—found beside a fallen tree, potential shelter site.

Excitement surges. “We were so close,” one searcher says. Hopes soar they might find Celine nearby.

But harsh weather and the need for forensic testing—DNA on items, data extraction from phone—force suspension. Searchers “take a breath,” waiting anxiously.

tasmaniantimes.com

kids.kiddle.co

The Treacherous Tarkine: Why Tasmania’s Wilderness Claims Lives

Tasmania’s rainforests are breathtaking but unforgiving. Philosopher Falls lies in the Tarkine—cool temperate wilderness with horizontal scrub, deep gullies, and sudden downpours. Off-track, visibility drops to metres; disorientation hits fast.

Statistics are sobering: Tasmania records multiple bushwalker disappearances annually. Hypothermia kills quickly in wet, windy conditions—even in “mild” winters. A 2023 report noted over 200 search-and-rescue operations statewide.

Experts believe Celine, facing fading light and rain on June 17, left the track for a direct route back. GPS data shows her crossing Seven Mile Creek, climbing a ridge. She may have dropped her phone, pressed on, and become lost.

The makeshift poncho and bottle suggest survival attempts—huddling under a log, rationing water. Heartbreaking evidence of a fight to live.

Why items missed before? Dense regrowth, seasonal changes, sheer vastness. “The bush swallows things,” one local says.

Theories and Speculation: Misadventure or Something More?

Police maintain no suspicious circumstances. Inspector Andrew Hanson: “Phone location supports she became disoriented in dense terrain.”

Yet speculation lingers. Some locals whisper of a “wild man” sighted nearby—though unlinked. Online forums debate foul play, but evidence points to tragedy.

Private searches highlight gaps: Gamble insists Celine within 1km of last ping. Filmmaker Rob Parsons, documenting efforts, analyses GPS, revealing overlooked areas.

A Family’s Unending Grief: “The Silence is Unbearable”

In Belgium, Celine’s mother waits for news, liaison officers providing updates. Friends like Justine: “Leaving without answers would be awful.”

Waratah rallies—locals cook for searchers, erect memorials. “She’s part of our community now,” one resident says.

The pause is devastating. Searchers, including Europeans facing return flights, vow to continue independently if needed.

Forensic results could reveal last photos, messages, battery life—clues to final hours.

Broader Lessons: Safety in the Wild

Celine’s case echoes others—Theo Hayez in Byron Bay, countless Tasmanian walkers. Calls grow for better tracking apps, mandatory check-ins, enhanced searches.

As rainforest mists swirl over Philosopher Falls, the world waits. Items found paint a poignant picture: a young woman battling elements, so close to safety yet swallowed by wilderness.

They were so close. Perhaps, with forensics, closure is nearer than ever.

If you have information, contact Tasmania Police.