NSW Police are using a specialist drone as they continue to search for missing Belgian teenager Theo Hayez at a Byron Bay beach.
The 18-year-old was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar about 11pm on Friday, 31 May.
The young traveller appeared to be headed towards his accommodation at the Wake Up! hostel north of town, where his passport and belongings were later found untouched.
It's thought he never made it, and Mr Hayez was reported missing to local police the following Thursday.
"Today, police will be utilising a specialist drone, while being assisted by NSW Surf Lifesaving from the water at Belongil Beach," a police spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mr Hayez's mobile phone records have helped investigators narrow down the search area. Source: Facebook
"Officers with assistance from SES volunteers and members of the community have conducted extensive land searches to the east and northeast of the town."
Mr Hayez's final known activity is believed to be sending a message to another friend in Belgium after midnight.
"It seems like he was still happy where he was at that time, so he might've met someone on the way to the backpackers or decided to go and lay on the beach for a bit, we don't know," friend Michael Dorkhom wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
"Something must've stopped him on the way to the backpackers since he would've reached (it) around 11.30pm on the Friday if he just had kept walking."
The search for Theo on Tuesday shifted to Belongil Beach, which is across the road from the backpackers' accommodation.
