Blowhole death: Uncle accused of stabbing niece to death

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A man accused of stabbing his wife's niece to death and dumping her body in a blowhole on the NSW Central Coast has faced court.

International student Mengmei Leng's naked body was discovered floating face down in foamy waters at Snapper Point last weekend, with stab wounds later revealing she'd allegedly suffered a violent attack.

Ms Leng's accused killer, her 27-year-old uncle Derek Barrett, was formally refused bail at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday to reappear on Wednesday, May 4.

The young woman was last seen catching the train home to the southwest Sydney suburb on Campsie last Thursday, where she'd lived with her auntie and the accused since arriving in Australia five years ago.

Ms Leng kept in contact with friends until late on Thursday night, before her phone and social media accounts fell silent.

Three days later, a tourist discovered her lifeless body more than 100km away.

Police will allege Barrett murdered the 25-year-old over the weekend while his wife was away.

It will be alleged his mobile phone was intercepted at Doyalson, less than 10km from where the woman's body was located, just 25 minutes before she was found on Sunday morning.

It's understood he was originally from the Central Coast town of Gwandalan, about 9km from the blowhole popular among tourists and fishers.

Barrett said nothing when he appeared in court via videolink wearing blue overalls on Saturday.

His next appearance has been set down for Burwood Local Court.

Ms Leng's mother has flown into Sydney from China as family and friends mourn her following the shocking news of her death.

- AAP