KEY POINTS:
The family of a New Zealand man missing in Australia's Northern Territory have uncovered no clues to his whereabouts despite a 1500km journey to retrace his steps.
Jamie Herdman, 26, was last seen on November 30 at the small town of Daly Waters, about 600km south of Darwin.
His father Stephen and brother Carl yesterday held a press conference in Darwin to appeal for information about his disappearance. Carl, 23, told the Herald that the three-day drive, during which they posted flyers and visited police stations, shops and truck stops, had provided little comfort.
"We feel a bit better that we've been and seen it all but we're still very confused and don't really know where to go from here," Perth-based Carl said.
The last confirmed sighting of Jamie was on November 30, hitchhiking out of Daly Waters.
He was reported missing when pub staff there found his van abandoned in a carpark. His mobile phone and cash were inside. His bank accounts have not been touched since.
The family appealed to anyone who, at the time of Mr Herdman's disappearance, had passed through Daly Waters, which has a population of only about 20 but lies on the main highway between Darwin and Alice Springs. "There's a lot of trucks and a lot of tourists going past there, so we find it quite hard [to believe] that no one spotted him," Carl Herdman said. "We just want to appeal to everyone to have a good think about it, and ... see if they remember anything."
Carl and his father, who lives in London, were likely to remain in Darwin several more days in case there are any new leads, but after that were unsure of their plans.
Jamie's sister, Kim Herdman, 28, who recently moved to New Zealand said: "Obviously we're still very concerned that he hasn't made contact or that we haven't had any recent sightings." She said it was unusual her brother had not got in touch over Christmas and New Year.
On Monday, his grandfather, former Whakatane Mayor Don Herdman, said the family were trying to remain positive.
"We're just holding our hopes up and keeping our fingers crossed," he said.
Jamie Herdman lived in Whakatane before moving to Australia 18 months ago.
