Aussie dad vanishes without a trace on a camping trip as his family issue a desperate plea: 'Really distressing news'

By MATT JONES, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:06, 8 April 2026 | Updated: 01:06, 8 April 2026 A family has made a desperate appeal for help to find a missing father who disappeared on a camping trip last week. Phil Hutchison, 62, hasn't been seen or heard from since April 2 after he went travelling in remote parts of northern NSW with a van and caravan. His family says he was likely travelling around Guy Fawkes River National Park, the Ebor, Dalmorton and Nymboida River areas and Marendo Road and Chaelundi Road. He was planning to do some biking on nearby trails. Mr Hutchison's family raised the alarm after his van was found without the caravan attached, north of Lismore. It's a vast area, with Guy Fawkes River National Park at least 300km away from where his van was found.  Mr Hutchison's son Michael made an appeal on social media to help find his father, saying he may be with his caravan in a remote area with limited phone signal. 'We've got some really distressing news to share,' he wrote on Facebook. Phil Hutchison has been missing in remote NSW since April 2, according to his family He was planning to bike through some trails in northern NSW His van was found north of Lismore without his caravan 'Our Dad is missing. He went camping over the Easter weekend, but nobody has heard from him since. 'We are concerned for his welfare. Please contact me, our family or police if you've got any details and/or share this post.' Friends online rallied to the family's support. 'Oh gosh Hutch, this is really awful. Thinking of you and your family and sending positive thoughts for his safe return home,' one person wrote. 'How terrible. I hope he is found safe and well soon. Sending love and big hugs to you,' another said. 'Oh Michael, I'm so sorry to hear this. Praying he is found alive and well ASAP,' a third said. NSW Police said they had received no report of Mr Hutchison missing. Daily Mail contacted Mr Hutchison's family for comment.   No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.