Mengmei Leng's aunt and cousin were away for the long weekend when her uncle allegedly stabbed her to death and dumped her body in a blowhole at Snapper Point on New South Wales' Central Coast.

Derek Barrett, 27, is accused of murdering his niece between Thursday night and Sunday morning last week.

Police believe Ms Leng, returned to her home in Campsie on Thursday afternoon after spending the day shopping in Sydney, Fairfax reported.

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Derek Barrett (left) and his alleged murder victim Mengmei Leng whose body was dumped in a blowhole

NSW Police have release CCTV footage of Mengmei Leng, 25, shopping at Pitt Street in central Sydney about 3pm last Thursday

She was allegedly murdered inside the family home.

Her aunt and cousin were away for the weekend, the Daily Telegraph reports.

She attempted to fight off her attacker and suffered a number of defensive wounds, as well as over 30 stabbing blows, the autopsy revealed.

It is believed CCTV footage captured a car entering Lake Munmorah national park around 7am on Sunday.

Police will allege Ms Leng’s body was inside the car.

Mr Barrett, a former IT worker, was unemployed at the time of the murder.

Police will allege that he stabbed Ms Leng more than 30 times and are awaiting further forensic results.

Mr Barrett was arrested on Friday and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday via video link - he did not apply for bail.

He wore a blue forensic jumpsuit and did not speak nor show any emotion throughout the hearing, The Daily Telegraph reported.

He will appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.

Her body was found at the bottom of a blowhole near Snapper Point on Sunday. Above is an image from CCTV

Thousands of tributes have flooded Ms Leng's social media accounts since she was identified as the girl in the blowhole.

'Such a beautiful girl taken too soon by a monster, may you be at peace,' one Instagram user wrote.

'No longer willing to heaven a better kind of pain all believe that the law will severely punish the murderer will not let him go unpunished hope parents must take care to hold the body together waiting for legal rulings,' wrote another.

Her last photo on the social media platform has attracted more than 2,000 comments with many people calling for the 'perpetrator' to be brought to justice.

'The murderer will definitely be sent to hell, the deepest level of hell and bear the greatest torture,' another person commented.

Even strangers have been leaving tributes.

'I don't know you, but you are so beautiful and lively. I feel sick that your life has been taken from you,' one wrote.

'I feel a terrible sadness about this young woman's passing though I didn't personally know her. May you be seated at the head of God's table dear. RIP,' said another.

Ms Leng appears to have visited the site of her alleged murder in the past, as she posted a photo to her Instagram account of the exact same blowhole almost three years ago on June 13, 2013

Ms Leng appears to have visited the site of her alleged murder in the past, as she posted a photo to her Instagram account of the exact same blowhole almost three years ago on June 13, 2013.

Ms Leng was earlier identified as a University of Technology Sydney graduate, and NSW Police released CCTV footage of her shopping at Pitt Street in central Sydney about 3pm last Thursday.

Also known as Michelle, Ms Leng caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm three days before her body was found on Sunday, April 24.

The 25-year-old, who is originally from China, is a University of Technology Sydney graduate who studied economics and hospitality business management.

Ms Leng was living with her aunt and uncle at Campsie, in Sydney's south-west, and had been living in Australia for five years.

Her mother and brother live in China and she was also studying translation at UTS before her death.

A picture of Ms Leng on her graduation day last year after getting her economics and hospitality business management degree

Friends of Ms Leng said they last saw her at a bus stop outside UTS on Friday before the long weekend and she may have been planning to meet someone for a date, news.com.au reported.

Det Chief Insp Jubelin said on Friday she had been communicating with friends on her mobile phone up until Thursday night and she did not post on social media following that time.

He also said it was 'out-of-character' and 'unusual' for Ms Leng to disappear.

'From all the information we've gathered in relation to the young lady, she was very responsible, would always stay in contact with her family, let them know where she was going, so there was concerns when she disappeared,' Det Chief Insp Jubelin said.

'So it is definitely out-of-character for her.'

The blowhole at Snapper Point is a notorious spot popular with fisherman. In eight years, there have been 16 deaths at and around the spot

Friends of Ms Leng said they last saw her at a bus stop outside UTS on Friday before the long weekend

Ms Leng's family have been informed of her death and Det Chief Insp Jubelin said he did not think 'devastated properly describes' the way her relatives were feeling.

Chinese media reported that her mother was applying for a visa in order to fly to Sydney.

'It is difficult and traumatic for her family so far away at this time,' he said.

'Speaking to the brother, he was shocked by it and there is a lot of pain.

'They're dealing with it as best they can but it's a very sad situation.'

Homicide detectives are scouring CCTV and traffic cameras to map out Ms Leng's final movements.

They are also speaking to her family members, friends and associates.

Det Chief Insp Jubelin said there was no 'clear or concise motive' at this stage of the investigation.

'It just seems like a senseless crime for a lady like that to be killed and murdered in the situation that occurred,' he said.

Friends and acquaintances paid tribute to Ms Leng on Chinese and Australian social media sites.

'Devastated. Hope there is no pain in Heaven,' one friend said.

The 25-year-old, who is originally from China, is a University of Technology Sydney graduate

Ms Leng, also known as Michelle, caught a train from St James Railway Station, arriving at Campsie Railway Station about 4.30pm

'Cherish life, as you never know which day is your last day,' another said.

'Who would've thought she was gone.'

Ms Leng was an adventurer who recently travelled to Hobart for a getaway and regularly embarked on day trips around New South Wales.

In recent weeks, she posted a video from West Head lookout near Sydney Harbour, pictures from Resolute Beach, north of the city, in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and Werri Beach on the south coast.

Like so many girls her age, she would often post pictures of herself having cocktails and glasses of wine with friends and hip Harbourside on weekends.

Ms Leng is originally from Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province, according to an old missing persons report circulated online.

Ms Leng's body was found floating in a blowhole at Snapper Point at the Munmorah State Conservation Area on Sunday morning.

Earlier this week, Det Chief Insp Jubelin said Ms Leng suffered a 'violent assault' before her death.

'The post-mortem revealed the woman had suffered a number of wounds, significantly some stab wounds,' he said.

'Our interpretation of the situation is that she suffered a violent assault prior to her death.'

Detectives are hopping to pieces together Ms Leng's movements over the long weekend after she was reported missing to Campsie Police on Monday by a relative

Ms Leng's body was found floating in a blowhole at Snapper Point at the Munmorah State Conservation Area on Sunday morning

Police released a photo composite of Ms Leng's face when they were unable to identify her after her body was found on Sunday

Det Chief Insp Jubelin said her body was found in an area frequented by tourists and rock fisherman, but it was somewhat isolated.

'It is a very beautiful location but for a crime and someone to be disposed of in that manner in the location its a very lonely and isolated area,' he said.

Ms Leng was discovered face down on Sunday morning and authorities believe she could not have been there for any longer than 48 hours, and it was likely much less than that.

'She was found at 10.30am so this is suggestive of the fact that perhaps her body hadn't been there very long in the water,' Mr Jubelin said.

In eight years, there have been 16 deaths between Snapper Point and Frazer Park, which covers an area of 3km along the coast line.