Two couples, one French one German, and a pre-school child came in from the rain late on Monday morning, with a little help from the Kaitaia Fire Brigade.
The tourists had been camping on the Raetea reserve, at the northern foot of the Mangamuka Gorge, for a couple of days, enduring wind and rain, but by yesterday morning supplies were getting low, the rain showed little sign of easing and a flooded ford had cut them off from the outside world.
Chief Fire Officer Colin Kitchen said a rescue line was set up across the ford and the campers, wet but unharmed, were helped to safety, although by then the water level had begun falling.
"We took them to the station so they could have a hot shower and we'll take then back to Raetea later to get one of their cars that's stuck in mud. Hopefully we'll find a farmer who can pull it out," he said.
"I'm not sure where they'll end up tonight but wherever it is we'll make sure they're warm, dry and well fed. That's what volunteering is about."
