The group became stuck when a snowstorm struck on Waikaia Bush Rd, near Piano Flat, after they had headed out in a group of 13 four-wheel-drive vehicles on Sunday afternoon.
Snowbanks of up to 2m blocked the roads, with strong winds and poor visibility making rescue efforts almost impossible for most of yesterday.
Several attempts to get a helicopter to the convoy were aborted, and even a Defence Force chopper called in to help could not reach them because of conditions. Eventually the weather cleared enough to allow two Thundercat snowmobiles to reach the group just before nightfall.
All 38 people were recovered safe and well from their snow-bound vehicles, before being transferred to four-wheel-drives and buses once they reached the snowline, and ferried to Roxburgh Rugby Club at about 6.30pm.
A police spokeswoman this morning said the group would not be asked to contribute to the cost of the rescue.
"Police is funded to provide search and rescue services as part of its business-as-usual work," she said.
"It's too early to say at this stage what the cost of the operation is.
"The vehicle recovery is, however, the responsibility of the owners."
New Zealand Land Search and Rescue chief executive Steve Caldwell said it had a "no faults policy", similar to ACC, meaning it didn't charge for rescues.
He wasn't aware of any assistance available for the vehicle recovery, other than tow services, "which won't be much use in these conditions".
Chris Coory, of Dunedin Land Search and Rescue, yesterday said he believed the four-wheel-drives would be written off.
"You can go up there in springtime and see what they're like. They might be all right."
Last night, concerns emerged about the decision to head off on the trek despite a forecast for snowfall and frigid temperatures, with a member of the local four-wheel-drive club saying the group might not have survived another night.
Otago Lakes-Central area commander Inspector Olaf Jensen said the group, which included two children, were all safe. Asked about their decision to proceed given the forecasts, he said people who headed out on drive treks should make sure they were prepared for bad weather.
The main thing to focus on was the rescue, and other matters would be discussed during a later debriefing, he said.
The group had been conserving food and they were given advice about saving fuel. Mr Jensen said they were reasonably well prepared.
It was 5.6C yesterday afternoon in Roxburgh, but MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said it was likely to be closer to freezing higher up where the stranded group were.
