The natural beauty and wildlife of Tasmania had left a lasting impression on Celine Cremer during her six-month visit, yet the Belgian traveler felt compelled to continue her journey across Australia. After packing her vehicle with camping supplies and securing a ferry ride back to the mainland, she mapped out a route to Darwin, where her close friend, Justine Ropet, was scheduled to fly in from Belgium.
Having recently celebrated her 31st birthday, Celine had a week left to explore Tasmania before her ferry departure. She decided to venture to the rugged west coast, reaching the charming town of Waratah on June 17, 2023.
Surveillance footage depicted Celine briefly exploring a local service station before departing for Philosopher Falls, a stunning multi-tiered waterfall situated approximately 10 kilometers from Waratah. At around 2 PM, she parked her vehicle in a small gravel lot at the Philosopher Falls trailhead.
The relatively short, 3-kilometer round-trip hike begins on a flat path surrounded by the towering trees of the Tarkine rainforest. The trail crosses the Arthur River and descends 200 steps into a gorge that features an observation area overlooking the magnificent waterfall. Typically, the hike takes about an hour, providing Celine with sufficient time to return to her car before nightfall.
In the absence of witnesses or surveillance equipment in the remote area, the circumstances that followed remain unclear. One theory posits that instead of retracing her steps back to her vehicle, Celine may have ventured right onto a water race, prompting the addition of warning signs to that path. At 3:32 PM, a GPS signal from Celine’s mobile device indicated her location about a kilometer past the Philosopher Falls trail, near Magnet Dam.
It is possible that Celine had reached the falls and opted to explore further. This marked the beginning of 45 GPS locations recorded by her phone over the next 46 minutes. These signals can occur when a user activates location services, such as with Google Maps. Initial data indicated Celine was moving north along the water race, then south, and subsequently retracing her steps.
For approximately 10 minutes, the GPS signals tracked her path back towards the falls and the parking area. However, by 3:49 PM, as daylight dwindled, Celine appeared to divert from her course. The region she was navigating was characterized by dense rainforest and steep terrain.
At 4:13 PM, GPS data revealed Celine approaching the summit of a hill, heading nearly directly toward Philosopher Falls, just 600 meters from the trail that would lead her back to safety. Yet a final GPS signal at 4:18 PM indicated a change in direction, with night fast approaching, rainfall occurring, and temperatures dropping.
At this point, Celine Cremer found herself lost.
Celine had a passion for travel, not merely to witness the beauty of different locales and immerse herself in various cultures but also to enhance her self-confidence. “Australia represented her most significant travel experience,” remarked her childhood friend, Justine Ropet, in an interview with Australian Story. “She had an adventurous spirit but often struggled with self-doubt and was easily frightened.”
After arriving in Australia in June 2022, Celine spent six months in Sydney before relocating to Tasmania, where she worked at a restaurant in Coles Bay. Justine noted that Celine was gaining confidence, saying, “She was doing better and better.”
Excited to reunite with Celine, Justine booked her flight to Darwin for June 20, 2023, and immediately attempted to reach her friend to share the news, but was unsuccessful.
Celine’s mother, Ariane Mathieu, also struggled to get in touch with her daughter. The last communication Ariane had received from Celine was on June 16 (local time), and despite sending several messages afterward, she received no response.
When Justine reached out to Ariane to inquire about Celine, Ariane quickly sensed that something was amiss. Justine contacted friends in Sydney, who attempted to call Celine’s number without success, and also messaged Celine’s acquaintances in Coles Bay, Gabby Patterson and Mel Lancaster, but none had any information.
Initially, they reassured themselves that Celine was simply out of mobile range or preoccupied with her travels. However, their comfort began to fade. On June 26, Justine and Gabby decided to contact Tasmania Police.
The following day, authorities located Celine’s vehicle at the Philosopher Falls parking area. Inspector Andrew Hanson of Tasmania Police noted that the presence of her camping gear in the car indicated that Celine intended to return after her hike to the falls.
A search operation commenced, with police and the State Emergency Service meticulously combing the area by air, land, and water, although inclement weather hampered their efforts. Ariane appreciated the search teams’ dedication but felt a deep sense of loss, stating, “I knew it. So much time had passed without any news. She went for a walk in the forest and didn’t come back to her car.”
Conversely, Justine remained hopeful. Within two weeks, she and her friend Gabriel Remy traveled from Belgium to Tasmania, convinced that Celine would be found alive. They visited Philosopher Falls and were struck by the area’s density, realizing the challenges posed by the twisted trees and thick underbrush just off the trail. “It became clear to me that she could easily have gotten lost,” Justine remarked, adding that Celine had never encountered a forest like that before.
The search continued for two weeks before being suspended but was reignited for three days starting July 29 after receiving Celine’s mobile data pings. A cadaver dog was deployed, but no significant evidence was discovered.
Inspector Hanson concluded, “There was nothing credible to suggest anything other than Celine unfortunately made a mistake and tragically met with an unfortunate end through misadventure.”
