The rescue helicopter spokesman believed several factors caused the man to get stuck.
"I think it was a combination of perhaps tides, increasing wave height and the terrain itself. Perhaps the swells have picked up significantly from what he was first encountering and that's going to be problematic in him getting out safely on foot."
He said a "sheer rock face" at least 180m high was behind the trapped tramper, who spent the night "on a rock ledge looking at the Tasman Sea."
The rescue helicopter spokesman said the patient tramper kept his cool instead of making things worse by trying to escape the treacherous rocks alone.
Police said the tramper was about 500 metres from the Blowhole rocks.
Emergency services and Piha Surf Rescue were first alerted to the man's plight at about 6.30pm yesterday but wild seas thwarted initial rescue attempts.
"Due to overhanging ledges a rope rescue or helicopter winching could not be conducted," police said.
The Eagle police helicopter eagle used its lights and communicated with the man by phone to guide him to higher ground, away from the advancing tide.
Police and rescue helicopter crew confirmed the man had warm clother and a sleeping bag, enabling him to make it through the night on the rocks.
However, Police Northern Communications Inspector Tony Wakelin said the tramper should have better assessed the tide times and conditions.
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