Police hopeful of finding teen missing in dense bushland since Friday

The search is continuing for a teenager who has been missing in bushland in Gippsland since Friday.

Police are hopeful of finding the teen, who they say is strong and fit.

Police say they remain optimistic about finding a teenager missing in dense bushland in Victoria's east.

William, whose surname has not been released by authorities, was camping with a friend at Walhalla East, near Cowwarr in Gippsland, when he disappeared on Friday.

The 17-year-old was dropped off with a friend about 1 kilometre from their campsite and walked back to the drop-off point to collect an esky and other supplies.

Police believed he became disoriented and walked in the wrong direction.

William spent the weekend in cold conditions wearing nothing but shorts and work boots, after he took his shirt off in warm weather on Friday afternoon.

Victoria Police Acting Inspector Jason Benbow said more people would join the search today and authorities were optimistic about finding him.

"William's 17, he's fit and healthy, he's quite a tall, strong lad," Acting Inspector Benbow said.

"So we're really hanging on to hope that his health will get him through for these days until we can find him."

Acting Inspector Benbow said authorities had devoted extensive resources to the search.

"Yesterday we had two helicopters, we've had boats, we've had motorbikes, we've had horses [and] in excess of 50 people on foot," he said.

"So we are throwing absolutely everything at this and we will continue."

"We have no plans to scale it back at any time soon."

About 80 emergency service personnel scoured bushland yesterday and will continue their search today.

Acting Inspector Benbow said community members had approached the local station wanting to help.

"Although we'd love to have their help, we've just got to be careful that we don't create more issues," he said.

"We certainly don't want anyone else lost or injured in the bush."

"But if anyone has any information, please call Triple Zero or Crime Stoppers or the Sale Police Station."

The area in which William disappeared is called Walhalla East, but it is about an hour's drive away from the historical gold mining town of Walhalla, where a 76 year-old Warrnambool man was found dead yesterday morning.