Three family members, including an 11 and a nine-year-old girl, were rescued last night after getting lost near the Mackenzie Basin thanks to a local land owner and his helicopter.
Police received a phone call from a 40-year-old Oamaru man from his cell phone around 10.30am, saying he was lostsomewhere between Omarama and Danseys Pass with his 11 and nine-year-old daughters in a four wheel drive, on an off-road track.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge of Oamaru police said the trio were not prepared to be out overnight and had minimal clothing and little food and water.
Police searched the area described by the man but had no success, he said.
At 3pm a helicopter from Central South Island Helicopters was flown to the area with a police observer and an Omarama Search and Rescue Squad member, but could not find the family after four hours of searching.
Search and Rescue Squads in Omarama, Alexandra and Oamaru were mobilised around 8.30pm, as well as volunteers from four-wheel-drive clubs being called out.
Mr Woodbridge said weather and light conditions meant the initial helicopter search was called off.
Late last night land owner Hugh Cameron took Omarama police up in his own helicopter and with the help of David Anderson from Bogroy Station they found the lost party at a height of 4500 feet at the top of the Otamatapio Spur.
Mr Anderson drove then them about an hour back to the Otamatata Station.
