Searchers find walking poles and rubbish of missing hiker, lost in Kosciuszko since Boxing Day

Searchers have been scouring some of the thickest, steepest bush in the country in the multi-agency search for a hiker who has now been missing for almost a week.

Items belonging to an experienced bushwalker missing in Koscuiszko National Park for a week have been found.

The multi-agency search for 23-year-old Hadi Nazari, who was last seen by friends on Boxing Day, is set to resume on Thursday.

Police announced late on Wednesday that hiking poles and rubbish believed to be Mr Nazari’s were found on Tuesday.

The student, from Berwick in Melbourne’s southeast, was last seen by friends at about 2.30pm on December 26, descending the Hannels Spur Trail, Geehi between Khancoban and Thredbo, in the Kosciuszko National Park.

Hadi Nazari, 23, went hiking with two friends on Sunday, December 22 in Kosciuszko National Park. Picture: Supplied

Mr Nazari, an experienced hiker,was expected to meet with two other friends, aged 23 and 24, at the Geehi campground.

“However, when he failed to arrive, the two friends … began to search for him,” a statement from NSW Police read.

According to sister Zahra Nazari, the 23-year-old told his friend he was going to “stay back and take some photographs”, but he failed to return.

“We want more people to be there, it’s a very vast area, it’s a heavily dense area … more support from everywhere will accelerate the process,” she told 9News.

While Mr Nazari is an experienced hiker with previous experience overseas, this was the first time he had visited the national park.

His sister added her family fears Mr Nazari may have suffered a panic attack after getting lost and could face danger in the Australian wilderness.

“I just look at his pictures all the time and pray to God that he come back, he come back soon,” she said.

The experienced hiker went to take photographs and hasn’t been seen since. Picture: Supplied

Police and SES were alerted to the missing man about 8.45pm on Thursday, with patrols commencing by vehicle and on foot with no success.

The search continued into Friday, with NSW Police enlisting in a multi-agency search with assistance from National Parks and Wildlife Service, SES, NSW Ambulance, VRA Rescue NSW and the police helicopter.

Mount Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest mountain and is surrounded by heavy vegetation, prompting specially trained VRA and SES volunteers, and the AFP to be flown into the “rugged and remote” areas.

“It’s not just like going in a walk up a hill,” a spokesperson for NSW Police told reporters.

“It is dense bushland with high altitude, and scaling it is very difficult.”

Officers from the rural crime investigators unit are also patrolling the area on horseback with local volunteers.

The spokesperson said they were “hopeful” the specialist capabilities were able to locate the missing hiker.

“It’s very steep, it’s very vegetated, and it’s quite remote so we have set up increased communications to increase our capability there,” they said.

The man has been missing for five days. Picture: Supplied

The hiker is carrying camping equipment and wearing appropriate clothing. Photo – iStock

While there are concerns for the man’s welfare, police have been told the missing man is an experienced hiker and is carrying camping equipment such as a “reasonable” amount of water, camping tents and poles, and was wearing suitable clothing for the park’s conditions.

Mr Nazari is described as being Asian in appearance, slim build and around 172cm tall. He was wearing a grey, long sleeve shirt, grey pants and carrying a blue backpack.