Carolina Wilga was chasing an Australian adventure. Instead, she found herself fighting for survival.

The last time anyone saw Carolina Wilga, she was standing in the doorway of a general store in the tiny town of Beacon, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region

It was June 29, and the 26-year-old German backpacker was more than 300 kilometres from Perth, alone, travelling in a Mitsubishi van, chasing the dusty promise of an Australian adventure.

But the rain had other plans, and her van became bogged down in the mud, riddled with mechanical failures.

Carolina tried to free it, but the mud was too heavy. So she made a decision.

She left the van behind and started walking.

Then, she vanished.

A desperate air and land search was launched for the missing backpacker, and homicide detectives were even called in to help scour one of Australia's most unforgiving environments.

Watch: German backpacker Carolina Wilga found alive after 12 days in WA bushland. Post continues after video.

Carolina's van became bogged down in the mud. Image: WA Police

Carolina's mother issued pleas for help after she hadn't heard from her daughter.

Search crews moved through the challenging terrain, scouring the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve to find the backpacker.

Alone, Carolina kept walking, hoping someone would find her.

For 11 days, she survived. Then, on the 12th day, she saw and heard a glimmer of hope.

A motorist was passing by, and Carolina used the last of her strength to wave them down. The backpacker was dehydrated, exhausted, and covered in mosquito bites.

The passerby stopped, and called authorities for help. Carolina was saved, 20 kilometres away from the nearest walking track, and sent straight to hospital for medical attention.

"As you can imagine from the trauma she's suffered for the last few days, she's been obviously through a great deal," WA Police Inspector Martin Glynn told the media after she was discovered.

"No doubt, [it] will be a testament to demonstrating her bravery in these circumstances."

Carolina was distressed and hungry, but, "overall, just relieved that she had come across someone and was able to get that help," WA Police Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo later told Weekend Today.

It was "extremely lucky" that the motorist was passing by, said Securo.

"The outback can be made of many terrains which can be quite challenging, so often if you are out there, you may think, oh, I'm never going to come across someone who may help me."

"We're extremely grateful to that member of the community who helped us."

Securo also issued a warning for those who end up in a similar situation.

"Our advice would be if you do come to be in one of those positions, stay with your vehicle, our searchers are able to find a vehicle far easier than finding a person."

The wilderness tested Carolina beyond what many could endure, and she has since contacted her family.

Carolina was found after 12 days. Image: Facebook

"She is in touch with her family," Securo said. "We'll let things settle for a little while and then she'll reassess from there.'"

For now, many questions remain unanswered,

"I think once we do hear her story, it will be a remarkable story," Inspector Glynn told reporters. "She's obviously coped in some amazing conditions."

The state's Premier, Roger Cook, called her survival, "nothing short of remarkable."

"We're yet to have the full picture of what happened, but tonight, we can all breathe a little easier knowing Carolina is safe and well," he posted.

Feature Image: Facebook/WA Police.