The scaled back search for missing Englishman Hugo Palmer, 20 and Frenchman Erwan Ferrieux, 21, at Shelly Beach in Port Macquarie continued Thursday morning, with drones and jet skis heading out.

A major search has been conducted with air, land and sea emergency services sweeping the area - this was scaled back on Wednesday afternoon after advice from experts.

A NSW Police spokesperson said there is no time limit set to stop searching for the men.

"The scaled back search will involve the local police and water police teams including sweeps of the coast as their daily taskings," they said.

"How long this will continue will be reviewed regularly... there's no date to completely stop the search."

The spokesperson said the search would continue without use of the three helicopters, additional water rescue teams, volunteers or police divers.

"Police have been in contact with the families; however,  it's unknown whether they will be coming to Australia," said the spokesperson.

"An auntie of one of the boys was with the searchers yesterday."

The men, who attended the same school in East Grinstead are believed to have been travelling together along the New South Wales coast since arriving in Australia during November.

It's believed they originally arrived at the beach on February 17, after towels and possessions were sighted later that day at a nearby boat ramp.

The items were found by beach walkers on Monday, February 18, potentially indicating they had swum at the beach on February 17.

Their rented silver Commodore station wagon parked at the beach, was later searched with travel documents and belongings found.

Police are still appealing to anyone who might have seen the men, or their car, near the Shelly Beach car park or in the surrounding streets to contact them.

Descriptions of the men are Hugo Palmer from Forest Row, Sussex, England, is described as being of Caucasian appearance, with fair hair 180cm tall and with an athletic build. 

Erwan Ferrieux, from France, and has dark hair, brown eyes, a tanned complexion and is between 175cm-180cm tall.

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