Efforts to locate a backpacker who disappeared over two years ago are set to intensify following the discovery of her mobile phone.

The woman, who was thought to have embarked on a hike at Philosopher Falls, never returned from her journey.

Her abandoned white Honda CRV was discovered in a parking lot, raising concerns about her whereabouts.

A private search initiative, organized by the backpacker’s family and friends with assistance from the police, was launched over the weekend.

During this renewed search, her phone was found in the Philosopher Falls vicinity yesterday, offering a new lead in the ongoing investigation.

Police are now looking into she may have got lost while on the way back to her car.

“The phone was found in an area that has been extensively searched previously and phone data, as well as the location it was found, supports our theory that Celine may have, using an app on her phone, elected to leave the Philosopher Falls track to take a more direct route back to her car as daylight faded,” Inspector Andrew Hanson said.

“We suspect she dropped her phone and continued without it, becoming disoriented in dense terrain.”

It’s the first sign of Cremer since she went missing, and Tasmania Police will now officially join the search. 

Hanson said search efforts were postponed today due to weather, but that authorities had a clear plan of attack.

“When the search recommences, we will work together with the independent searchers to specifically re-search the area where the phone was located and the likely route Celine may have taken after losing it,” he said.

Hanson said a police liaison officer had informed Cremer’s family in Belgium.