A major search operation is underway in Nattai National Park for 18-year-old Lily Hooper, who has been reported missing after setting out for a hike in the Southern Highlands.

Lily was last seen in Oakdale on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, after leaving home at approximately 8 a.m. She had reportedly told people close to her that she planned to explore a new hiking trail.

Her vehicle was later found near the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail inside Nattai National Park, prompting authorities to begin an extensive search of the surrounding bushland.

NSW Police, alongside emergency and specialist agencies, are involved in the operation. Search resources include police rescue personnel, the NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Ambulance, and other specialist teams. Aerial resources have also been assisting crews as they search the large and challenging area.

Authorities and Lily’s family have expressed serious concerns for her welfare as the search continues.

Lily is described as approximately 175 centimetres tall, with a slim build, long blonde hair, and blue eyes. She was reportedly wearing a shirt and shorts when she was last seen.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have travelled through or visited the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail or surrounding areas of Nattai National Park to come forward with information that could assist investigators.

The rugged environment presents significant challenges for search crews. Dense vegetation, uneven terrain, and the size of the wilderness area can make locating a missing person difficult, particularly when authorities have limited information about their movements.

Lily’s disappearance has also prompted an emotional response among her friends and members of her martial arts community.

People close to her said Lily trained at Bujutsu on Tuesday evening, just one night before she disappeared. She had reportedly been connected with the gym for approximately two years and had developed experience in Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts.

Friends have described Lily as physically capable, determined, and experienced in outdoor activities. Those qualities have offered some encouragement to people anxiously awaiting news while specialist teams continue searching the area.

As the search continues, relatives, friends, and members of the wider community are urging anyone with information to contact police and share details that could help establish Lily’s movements.

Anyone who may have seen Lily, her vehicle, or anything unusual around the Bonnum Pic Walking Trail and surrounding areas is urged to come forward.

For Lily’s family, every passing hour is significant. They continue to wait for answers as emergency crews work across Nattai National Park in the hope of locating the missing teenager and bringing her home safely.