Authorities have been desperately searching for Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux (right and left), both 20, after their abandoned rental car was found at Shelly Beach near Port Macquarie on Sunday
A 20-year-old British tourist had delighted his family with images of a picturesque coastline as he travelled through Australia on a trip of a lifetime.
But Hugo Palmer's aunt says his grand adventure has become 'a living nightmare' since he and his French schoolmate Erwan Ferrieux, 21, disappeared from Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Mr Palmer had been staying in Sydney and Melbourne for three months before buying a car and heading north with his best mate.
Towels and clothes belonging to the pair were found on the sand of Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie, northern NSW, at about 6.30am on Monday, along with their car containing their passports.
Mr Palmer's aunt, Lorraine Tilling, said he worked hard in their home town of Forest Row, Sussex, to afford the plane ticket before he left on November 1.
'He was having an absolute ball, it really was the trip of a lifetime,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
'He'd been working hard, he'd only just got the money to buy the car and was so excited to be starting his great adventure.
'He kept sending us the most fantastic pictures, Australia is beautiful and we were so excited for him.'
The family of British man Hugo Palmer (right) are said to be deeply distressed at the 20-year-old's disappearance, and say they are in a 'living nightmare'
Well-wishers have been leaving messages of support for Mr Palmer and his friend Erwan Ferrieux (pictured) in the comments section of their pictures, despite police fears they may have drowned
Ms Tilling said her brother Stuart Palmer, Hugo's father, was 'beside himself' and the family was clinging to a glimmer of hope that he is still alive.
'This is just a living nightmare for us, it's a really hard time,' she said.
'We've had no contact (from police in Australia about the search), no idea what's going on, and we're so far away.
'He's our little star and we just want him back safely.'
Mr Palmer's Instagram profile shows him and Mr Ferrieux enjoying their adventure through Sydney last month, having set off on their journey across the world in November.
In the pictures, the duo can be seen relaxing on sun-soaked beaches and fixing up a car they bought.
Authorities found a car belonging to the pair, which contained their passports, near the beach on Monday morning
Mr Palmer (pictured left) was not due back in Britain for a couple of months but now his family are desperate to see him
Since news of their disappearance began to spread, well-wishers have been flooding the comments section on the pictures with messages of support.
'I hope you guys are OK,' the post read.
'I hope God is with you in your hearts protecting you and loving you. May he send you back to your families and friends filled with happiness.'
Ms Tilling said Mr Palmer was due back in Britain in a couple of months and his adventure really only just began a few days ago
