Police say they have found more human remains, as well as items of clothing that they believe belong to missing Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer.
A further search was carried out on Friday on a section of the Arthur River near Waratah in north-west Tasmania.
The area is 2.5 kilometres from Philosopher Falls, where Ms Cremer was believed to be visiting before she disappeared in 2023.
Police preparing to fly experts into remote vegetation near Philosopher Falls. (ABC News: Mackenzie Heard)
Commander Nathan Johnston said a polar fleece jacket, believed to belong to Ms Cremer, was among the items discovered.
He said a bra and a thermal top had also been found, along with more bones, believed to be human.
“Whilst further forensic examination will need to be conducted to confirm the identity, due to the nature of the items located, and the location, we believe they are Celine’s,” Commander Johnston said.
“We recognise how significant these developments are for Celine’s family, and we are ensuring they receive updates as sensitively and promptly as possible.”
Police have not provided specific details on the human remains, due to the sensitive nature of the discovery.
Police will continue to search the area until nightfall, and will return on Saturday morning.
It follows the discovery of human remains in the Arthur River on Wednesday; all remains and items were found in close proximity to each other, Commander Johnston said.
Ms Cremer was reported missing on June 26, 2023.
Her vehicle was found parked at the head of the Philosopher Falls track, and police started a two-week search operation at the time.
It was hampered by regular heavy rainfall and treacherous terrain, before it was called off nine days later on advice that Ms Cremer would have been unable to survive the conditions.
It’s believe she may have left the track, become disoriented by the inhospitable terrain and was unable to find her way back to safety.
A private search started again in December last year, resulting in several breakthroughs.
Celine Cremer was backpacking around Tasmania when she went missing in the state’s north-west. (Supplied: Facebook)
Police search covers river
Two human bones were discovered by volunteer searcher Jarrod Boys on Wednesday.
They were in a riverbed about 3 kilometres north-east from a water race that Ms Cremer was believed to have walked along before her disappearance.
What could have happened to Celine Cremer?
Police then found a further five items in the water, also believed to be human remains.
Police flew experts into the area by helicopter on Friday morning.
They started their search along the Arthur River about 500 metres from where the first human remains were found.
Police intended to walk through the river, making the most of low water levels, scouring the riverbed and riverbank for further remains.
During the initial search in 2023, police carried out a “swift-water rescue” search of the section of the Arthur River, but the water level was much higher.
The area has dense rainforest vegetation and heavy rainfall. It resulted in the initial search being called off due to low likelihood of survival. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)
Second search bringing answers
A renewed search started in earnest in December, led by private investigator Ken Gamble.
It was aided by the publicity generated by YouTube videos from prominent Tasmanian wilderness hiker Rob Parsons, who had attempted to trace Ms Cremer’s last-known movements.
They encountered early success, first by locating a phone belonging to Ms Cremer, and then a water bottle and a garbage bag that could have been used as a poncho, which are undergoing forensic testing.