New Zealand police searching for murdered British backpacker Grace Millane said they had found a body late Sunday.

While the body had not yet been formally identified, it was believed to be that of the tourist, Detective Inspector Scott Beard told reporters.

“This brings the search for Grace to an end and it’s an unbearable time for the Millane family and our hearts go out to them,” Beard added.

Earlier in the day, police closed off and were searching Scenic Road, which borders the Waitakere Ranges about 25 kilometres west of central Auckland.  

On Saturday, police said they will charging a 26-year-old man with murder early Monday when he appears in Auckland District Court.

The man was seen going into a hotel with Millane in Auckland on December 1. It was the last time she was seen alive.

Police believe that her body was moved in a rental car that was later found in Taupo, around 275 kilometres south of Auckland.

Beard said he did not know if Millane knew the man before and would not speculate how she had met him.

Her father, English property developer David Millane, arrived in Auckland on Friday and held an emotional press conference pleading for information to find his "lovely, outgoing, fun-loving daughter."

He said his daughter had been on a year-long worldwide overseas experience, which she started in South America and had been looking forward to the second leg in New Zealand.