By Kate Christian, Nicolas Perpitch for ABC
Police have found the "abandoned" vehicle that a missing German backpacker was travelling in before she vanished in Western Australia's outback.
But the search for Carolina Wilga is continuing as she was not with the vehicle, which was found just after 1pm on Thursday in Karroun Hill - about 100km north of where she was last seen in Beacon.
A police spokesperson said the Mitsubishi van "is believed to have suffered mechanical issues".
"Carolina Wilga was not at the scene. The search to locate her is continuing, with additional resources being deployed to the area," the spokesperson said.
Karroun Hill Nature Reserve encompasses more than 300,000 hectares along the north-eastern limit of the Wheatbelt - the state's agricultural region.
According to Beacon's tourism website, Karroun Hill's is home to wildlife pushed out from the historical clearing of surrounding farm areas.
A nationwide search is underway for Ms Wilga, with Detective Senior Sergeant Katharine Venn earlier fronting the media to appeal for the public's help to find her.
She was last seen in Beacon, about 300km north-east of Perth, on June 29.
Senior Sergeant Venn said the 26-year-old was captured on CCTV just after midday at the Wheatbelt town's general store after arriving there in her distinctive black-and-silver 1995 Mitsubishi van, registration 1HDS 330.
The day before, on June 28, she was seen at a convenience store in Toodyay, before she also stopped off in Dowerin on her way to Beacon.
German backpacker Carolina Wilga was last seen in the Western Australia town of Beacon on 30 June. Photo: Supplied
'Vast' search area
Senior Sergeant Venn said police were searching a large area for Ms Wilga, who had expressed an interest in travelling into remote and regional areas of Western Australia as well as the east coast.
"She may have intended to travel over east and so therefore our search is vast," she said.
"Other police jurisdictions have been alerted to the disappearance and ... we are considering information from any state and territory in terms of a sighting or information in relation to her whereabouts."
Helicopters and planes had been scouring the area around Beacon in the Wheatbelt, which she said was known for its "inhospitable, rocky terrain".
"But we are also following up with leads across regional WA and coastal towns, including Albany, Esperance, Margaret River and every piece of information we're receiving is being treated seriously," she said.
Wilga had been wanting to leave Perth for some time and may have been heading to Queensland on the east coast. Photo: Supplied
Friend paints timeline
Ms Wilga's friend, who did not want to be named, said Ms Wilga had been wanting to leave Perth for some time and may have been heading to Queensland, but she was not certain of her destination.
The last time she saw her was at the Sundance Backpackers hostel in Fremantle, where she departed from on June 28.
At 7am that morning, Ms Wilga sent another person a text saying she was no longer going to drop off a book and a jerry can as she had "some stuff she needed to handle".
At 4:38pm the person received a voice message from Ms Wilga saying she was on the road and apologised for not dropping the items off.
The ABC has heard the voice message, in which a female voice says: "I just couldn't wait anymore. Uggh. I felt tired."
Wilga has been backpacking around Australia for two years. Photo: Supplied
'Unusual' disappearance
Senior Sergeant Venn described Ms Wilga's disappearance as "concerning" and "unusual", but said it was also possible she could be travelling in remote WA without reception.
"She could be off grid and not have access to her phone and she certainly had capacity in the vehicle she was travelling in to be self-sufficient for quite some time," she said.
Ms Wilga had been backpacking around Australia for the last two years and had recently been working on mine sites in regional WA.
She said Carolina's disappearance was still being treated as a missing persons investigation and there had been no indication of third party involvement or foul play at this stage, she said.
"But our minds are open to any line of enquiry or any information that people bring forward to us," she said.
"Someone out there must have some vital information which can assist police in bringing Carolina back to her family and friends.
"Her family are understandably distraught and very worried as any of us would be with a young family member on the other side of the world missing and in such unusual circumstances."
Carolina Wilga's van was found abandoned in Karroun Hill — about 100km north of where she was last seen in Beacon. Photo: Google Maps
A mother's plea
Ms Wilga's mother Katja took to social media to plead for any information about her daughter's whereabouts.
"Carolina is still sorely missed. If anyone has any information, please contact police.
"Please keep your eyes open."
Ms Wilga is of slim build with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
She has several tattoos including a distinctive symbol tattoo on her left forearm.
Two missing persons cases unlinked
In May, police found a vehicle belonging to Barry Podmore, 73, who has been missing since December.
Mr Podmore had been prospecting at Karroun Hill, and his vehicle was found abandoned and locked 40 kilometres north of Beacon.
Senior Sergeant Venn said on Thursday the two cases were being treated as separate investigations.
At the time of Mr Podmore's disappearance, the local shire president Tony Sachse told the ABC the Karroun Hill area was difficult terrain.
"The closed wattle country is quite thick and access is difficult, even on foot," he said.
"There are a few tracks … but access is difficult apart from the perimeter."
- ABC
