Police find Wellington woman missing while attempting to cross Tararua Range

A Wellington woman who went missing near Cone Hut has been “found safe and well” after getting lost while attempting a hike through the Tararua Ranges.

Police said the woman was intending to walk the Tararua Southern Crossing from Otaki Forks and combine it with a route to Cone Hut and Totara Flats and exit at Holdsworth Lodge in the Wairarapa.

“[She] last contacted family around lunchtime today, saying she was lost near Cone Hut,” police said earlier.

“No further contact has been made with [her] since then.”

The woman had planned a Tararua Southern Crossing route from Otaki Forks to Holdsworth Lodge in the Wairarapa before running into trouble. Photo / Supplied

A search and rescue operation to locate the woman soon commenced, with police issuing an update that she’d been found “safe and well” around 9.45pm.

“Thanks to everyone who called in with information or shared our post,” police said.

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