A HAUNTING last photograph of a happy German tourist on the trip of a lifetime near Alice Springs has been recovered by police and used to identify her body.

Gisela Thor’s body was found about 1pm yesterday — less than a day after the remains of her 76-year-old husband, Wilfred Thor, were discovered by police search crews near Trephina Gorge.

Search co-ordinator Sergeant Phil Emmett said they had retrieved the last photo of Mrs Thor from her camera and sent it to her relatives in Germany who had identified her.

He said the picture showed Mrs Thor in “good spirits” sitting at the gorge with a 600ml bottle of water but not wearing a hat.

“Such a sad end to what was obviously a lifetime endeavour and of plans to come and visit Australia,” he said.

“What a tragic end.”

Police launched a ground and air search on Sunday after a ranger found a car thought to belong to the couple at the gorge, about 70km northeast of Alice Springs.

Sergeant Emmett said Mrs Thor’s body was found just 2.5km from their car.

He said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the couple’s death.

“My theory is that they became disorientated, obviously very early on into their trip into Trephina Gorge.

“They have started wondering trying to find their way out they have found some groundwater there, was some groundwater available, and they have spent some time there. After that, for reasons unbeknown to me they have parted company.”

Camera Icon Sergeant Phil Emmett coordinated the search for two German tourists missing near Alice Springs. PICTURE: Jeff Tan Credit: Supplied

The couple arrived in Australia at the start of this month and hired a car from the Alice Springs Airport on February 9.

Sometime the next day, they drove more than 70km east to Trephina Gorge.

A helicopter was sent to scour the area while police, SES personnel and a park ranger searched on foot, motorbikes, quad bikes and with dogs but they were unable to find the tourists until it was too late.

Over the weekend, temperatures soared to 40C.

A police spokesman said officers searched the couple’s hotel room and found “important medication”.

The couple’s cause of death is yet to be established and a report is being prepared for the coroner. Police and emergency crews had covered more than 50km during the search.