Tasmania’s rugged northwest, with its dense rainforests and treacherous terrain, has long been a place where nature holds its secrets close. On June 17, 2023, Celine Cremer, a 31-year-old Belgian tourist, stepped into this wilderness for what was meant to be a brief hike to Philosopher Falls near the small town of Waratah. She never returned. For over two years, her disappearance remained one of Australia’s most perplexing missing persons cases, with no trace of her despite extensive searches. That changed on December 14, 2025, when a private search party uncovered a critical clue: Cremer’s mobile phone, found in the very area where she was last known to be. This discovery has reignited hope, prompted Tasmania Police to join the effort, and brought renewed attention to a case that has gripped both local and international communities.

Cremer, an experienced hiker, had been exploring Tasmania for six months before her disappearance. She was last seen in Waratah, a quiet town about 73 kilometers south of Burnie, on June 17, 2023. Her plan was to undertake a one-hour return hike to Philosopher Falls, a picturesque destination known for its cascading waters and lush forest surroundings. When she failed to board the Spirit of Tasmania ferry from Devonport to Victoria on June 21, her friends grew concerned. They reported her missing on June 26, and the following day, police found her white Honda CRV parked at the trailhead of Philosopher Falls. Mobile phone data indicated the vehicle had been there since June 20, suggesting Cremer had been in the area for several days before the alarm was raised.

Initial search efforts were comprehensive but hampered by Tasmania’s harsh winter conditions. Sub-zero temperatures, heavy rainfall, and snow blanketed the region, making the terrain even more challenging. Tasmania Police, alongside search and rescue teams and volunteers, scoured the area for two weeks. Swiftwater rescue experts and a cadaver dog were deployed, but no trace of Cremer was found. Medical experts advised that the conditions were not survivable for the duration she was believed to have been exposed, leading police to suspend the formal search on July 10, 2023. Inspector Andrew Hanson, who has been closely involved in the case, noted at the time that there was “no evidence of anything other than misadventure.” The case, however, remained open, with police committed to following up on any new information.

For Cremer’s family and friends, the lack of closure was unbearable. Her mother, Ariane, remained in close contact with Tasmania Police from Belgium, expressing gratitude for the support of the Tasmanian community. Friends, determined to find answers, organized their own searches, often with the assistance of private investigator Ken Gamble. Gamble, who took on the case pro bono, believed Cremer was within a one-kilometer radius of where her phone last pinged on June 17, 2023, at 4:18 p.m. His theory, shared by police, was that Cremer may have strayed from the Philosopher Falls track, possibly attempting a shortcut back to her car as daylight faded. The dense forest, with its thick canopy and tangled undergrowth, could easily disorient even an experienced hiker.

The breakthrough came on December 14, 2025, during a renewed five-day search organized by Cremer’s friends and led by Gamble. Four of Cremer’s close friends—Rachil Disbechl, Gabriel Remy, Yoan Minnaert, and Justine Ropet—traveled from Belgium to join local volunteers, including adventure filmmaker Rob Parsons and Waratah resident Judi Hunter. The group was methodical, combing through areas previously searched by police. Just before midday on the first day, volunteer Tony Hage, a local with experience in prior searches, spotted a mauve-colored Samsung phone about 60 meters from Cremer’s last known GPS coordinates. The discovery was emotional. Hage, described as a “local legend” by Parsons, was overcome, later telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he “just melted” when he saw the device. Cremer’s friends confirmed it was hers by its color and serial number, and Tasmania Police quickly took possession for forensic examination.

The phone’s discovery has provided a new focal point for the investigation. Inspector Hanson explained that phone data, combined with the location where it was found, supports the theory that Cremer used a tracking app to navigate a more direct route to her car. “We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain,” Hanson said. The area where the phone was found had been extensively searched in 2023, leading to some criticism of police efforts. Hanson, however, described the find as “opportunistic,” noting that the phone was only visible because sunlight hit it at the right moment. He emphasized that the initial searches were conducted in poor weather, with temperatures averaging minus 2 degrees Celsius and significant snowfall.

The renewed search was paused on December 15 due to wild weather, including rain, hail, and potential snow, as reported by the Bureau of Meteorology. Tasmania Police, now formally joining the effort, planned to resume the search on December 17 with additional search and rescue personnel and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers. The focus will be on re-searching the area around the phone and the likely route Cremer took after losing it. Hanson cautioned that the terrain remains treacherous, with thick horizontal scrub and pockets of bushland that are nearly impenetrable. “It’s challenging, and it’s evidenced simply by the fact this area was so well covered, and the phone was unable to be found for two years,” he said.

The discovery has also brought renewed emotional weight to those involved. Rachil Disbechl, one of Cremer’s friends, described her as a woman with a “strong and sunny personality” whose absence is deeply felt. “I think everyone wants an answer. That’s why we are here,” she told ABC News. Gabriel Remy, another friend, expressed the difficulty of leaving Tasmania without finding her, even as the group remains realistic about the likelihood of locating her remains. Private investigator Gamble echoed this sentiment, noting that the team is primarily searching for Cremer’s belongings—her backpack, car keys, or clothing fragments—as Tasmanian devils, carnivorous marsupials known for their ability to consume bone, may have scattered any remains. “The reality is that we are looking for things that won’t have been scavenged,” Gamble said.

The case has also drawn attention from the broader community. Rob Parsons, whose YouTube channel has documented his own searches for Cremer, helped raise awareness, attracting volunteers like Matt Strickland, a geologist from Indonesia with experience in remote bushland. Judi Hunter, who organized a memorial for Cremer at Philosopher Falls, has remained in contact with Cremer’s mother, Ariane, fostering a connection between the local community and Cremer’s family. The discovery of the phone has been described as a “twist of fate” by Parsons, who noted that emotions ran high among the search party, with “not a dry eye in the area” when the find was confirmed.

Tasmania’s wilderness has a history of swallowing its visitors. Philosopher Falls, named after prospector James “Philosopher” Smith, is part of the Tarkine rainforest, a region known for its beauty and its dangers. Signage at the track warns of the area’s history, noting that prospectors in the 1800s often went missing in the dense forest. Cremer’s case is not the first to baffle authorities. Ted Mead, writing for Tasmanian Times, suggested that Cremer may have traveled further than expected in her disoriented state, drawing on his experience searching for missing persons in remote areas. He questioned the accuracy of early phone ping data but acknowledged the difficulty of the terrain, which can confound even the most thorough searches.

The forensic examination of Cremer’s phone is now a critical next step. Police hope it will yield data about her final movements, potentially narrowing the search area. Hanson stressed that Tasmania Police remains committed to providing answers for Cremer’s family, particularly her mother, Ariane, who has been kept informed of developments. “We care deeply for Celine and her family,” he said, noting that missing persons cases are never formally closed.

As the search resumes, the discovery of Cremer’s phone has brought a glimmer of hope to a case that has long seemed unsolvable. For her friends, who have traveled thousands of miles to keep her memory alive, and for the volunteers who have braved Tasmania’s unforgiving wilderness, the find is a testament to their determination. Whether the phone will unlock the mystery of Cremer’s fate remains uncertain, but it has given the search a new direction and renewed purpose. The Tasmanian community, alongside Cremer’s loved ones, waits for answers, hoping that this breakthrough will finally bring closure to a story that has lingered in the shadows for over two years.