4 messages. Then silence. Police remain “very hopeful” of finding missing 18-year-old Lily Hooper, who vanished while hiking alone in Nattai National Park. Lily had kept in regular contact with her family throughout her trip, sending 4 messages before communication suddenly stopped. Those final messages may be the last clues to where Lily went — and what happened after her phone fell silent…
**Police ‘very hopeful’ of finding teenage hiker Lily Hooper missing in Nattai National Park**
An experienced teenage bushwalker who stayed in regular contact with her family throughout her trek has vanished in the rugged terrain of Nattai National Park, prompting a major multi-agency search as officers say they remain “very hopeful” of locating her safe.
Lily Hooper, 18, was last seen leaving her family home on Burragorang Road in Oakdale, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, at about 8am on Wednesday, 12 August 2026. She told relatives she intended to go hiking and was wearing a shirt and shorts. The young woman, described by those who know her as a seasoned and capable walker, had been sending text messages to her family during the outing before all contact suddenly ceased.
When Lily could not be reached later that day, concern rapidly escalated. Officers from The Hume Police District were notified just after 11.30pm on Wednesday and immediately began inquiries. Her vehicle was subsequently located near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail along Wanganderry Road, via Wombeyan Caves Road at High Range, inside Nattai National Park. The discovery of the car, abandoned close to the trailhead, confirmed she had reached the national park but has provided no further answers about what happened next.
Police and Lily’s family hold serious concerns for her welfare. She is described as Caucasian in appearance, approximately 175 centimetres tall, of slim build, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. A large-scale search was launched involving NSW Police, the State Emergency Service (SES), Police Rescue, NSW Ambulance and the Westpac Lifesaver 21 rescue helicopter. Crews spent Wednesday searching multiple areas of the park. The operation continued overnight and into Thursday and Friday, with specialist bush search and rescue units joining the effort.
By Friday, 14 August, the Australian Defence Force had also been called in to assist. Specialist Police Rescue coordinators are directing the search, deploying air assets, trail-bike riders and ground teams across the challenging landscape. The Bonnum Pic trail itself is a demanding 17-kilometre return journey that includes on- and off-track sections, dense bush, steep ridges and rock scrambling. It rewards walkers with dramatic views over the Wollondilly Valley but is known for its isolation and potential hazards, particularly for anyone who becomes injured or disoriented.
Lily’s uncle, Trent Brideson, said the family had received no significant new information as the search entered its third day. Her parents, Kirrily and Jim Hooper, were “understandably not coping very well.” Lily’s aunt, Sheridan Munro, posted an urgent appeal on social media: “My beautiful niece Lily Hooper went on a hike in the Southern Highlands and hasn’t returned. We are desperately trying to find her.”
Police have emphasised that Lily is an experienced hiker and that search teams remain optimistic. Officers have appealed to anyone who walked the Bonnum Pic trail on Wednesday or who has any information about her movements to come forward. Contact can be made with Moss Vale Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The case has drawn significant public attention. Lily is a recent graduate of Campbelltown Performing Arts High School and is remembered by those close to her as capable, independent and familiar with the bush. The fact that she had been texting her family during the hike has only heightened the worry once those messages stopped. Relatives and friends continue to wait for news while emergency services comb the national park’s dense and difficult terrain.
Nattai National Park lies roughly 90 minutes’ drive south-west of Sydney. Its remote tracks and variable weather conditions can quickly turn a day walk into a serious situation if a hiker becomes lost, injured or caught out by nightfall. Search coordinators have stressed the importance of public information that might narrow the search area or provide the last confirmed sighting beyond the trailhead.
As the multi-agency operation continues, police reiterate their hope that Lily will be found. The combination of an experienced walker, the presence of her vehicle at the trail, and the intensive resources now deployed – including Defence Force personnel – underpins the official position that there is still reason for optimism.
Anyone who may have seen Lily Hooper, spoken to her, or walked the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail in Nattai National Park on or after Wednesday 12 August is urged to contact police immediately. Information can be provided confidentially through Crime Stoppers. For Lily’s family, every hour that passes without contact is agonising. For the search teams, the priority remains clear: locate the 18-year-old bushwalker and bring her home safely.
