The body of a missing Victorian bushwalker has been found at the Werribee Gorge State Park.

Searchers located David Occhipinti's body at the base of the gorge about 7pm on Monday.

The 35-year-old had failed to return from his intended 10-kilometre hike around the gorge's circuit track on Sunday.

Family members raised the alarm when he failed to return. 

Police found his car on Sunday night, but found no trace of the semi-experienced adventurer until Monday evening's tragic discovery.

A selfie posted on Facebook by Mr Occhipinti on Sunday had provided the only clue to his the location.

Distraught family and friends joined the search for Mr Occhipinti on Monday, as police, State Emergency Service and Parks Victoria members continued to scour 575 hectares of bushland.

 – With The Age

EARLIER

A search and rescue operation is currently under way for a bushwalker who has been missing overnight at Werribee Gorge State Park in Pentland Hills.

Police, State Emergency Service volunteers and Parks Victoria resumed the search at daybreak this morning, following a search overnight that involved the police air wing.

David Occhipinti, a 35-year-old man from Noble Park North who has been described as a semi-experienced bushwalker, intended to complete a 10km walk around the Werribee Gorge Circuit Track.

A police helicopter has rejoined the search this morning after the air wing could only work off heat signatures overnight. 

It is believed Mr Occhipinti attended the western lookout about 3.30pm after posting a picture on Facebook. 

Senior Sergeant Deon Townsend-Booth said SES and Parks Victoria had recognised the location of where the picture had been taken and the search had initially focused on that area in particular as well as the surrounding tracks. 

Mr Occhipinti has not been seen since, although his car was found in the main carpark at the bottom of the state park. 

Police have left signage by Mr Occhipinti’s car to indicate they are looking for him in case he returns.

Senior Sergeant Townsend-Booth said there was an area of 575 hectares to cover with searches on the four main walking tracks already completed.

He said Mr Occhipinti had no previous health concerns or pre-existing medical conditions that he was aware of and was believed to be carrying some items on him including water.  

Senior Sergeant Townsend-Booth described the location as having “challenging tracks”, “steep inclines” off track and “rugged terrain”. 

“Our concern now would be if he was possibly injured now, that might be why we are not able to locate him,” he said.

“We’re confident we will locate him and we will throw all our outfits at it at this stage”

Senior Sergeant Townsend-Booth said family and friends had been involved in the briefing. 

“The family is obviously distraught and our main focus is to locate him and reunite him with his family,” he said.

“Everything has been done that we can do and we’re pretty satisfied all the areas we are searching we are searching to the best of our capacity.

“I don’t think the area is foreign to him, like I said he is a semi-experienced bush walker, which is a good thing because he should know the area.

“But that changes obviously if he is possibly injured or something like that.”

It was a relatively mild night overnight, with the mercury not dropping below 10 degrees in Ballarat.

In Melbourne, the coolest it got was 13.9 degrees.

Police do not currently expect any foul play.

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