The body of missing Melbourne plumber Dane Kowalski has been found in the South Australian outback.

Police made the discovery during a search in the far north of the state just after 12.30pm on Friday, 350 metres from where his car was found earlier in the week.

Dane Kowalski (inset) went missing on December 13.

The 27-year-old plumber went missing on December 13 last year. His family believe he had planned to drive from Melbourne to Darwin.