A group of tourists separated on the Lake Kaniere walkway sparked a search by Police land search and rescue last night which culminated in their rescue early today.
The group of five visitors had set out on the four hour walk around the western edge of Lake Kaniere while it was still daylight.
However, some of the party left the marked track along the lake edge from Sunny Bight and became "bluffed".
The Department of Conservation walk is graded easy.
NZCC Rescue Helicopter staff said the tourists were lost at the Slip Bay end of the walk, towards the southern end.
They had been in the water at some point and had got themselves disorientated and stranded.
They were cold and exhausted but otherwise well when located.
The helicopter was called to lift out the tourists and their rescuers at 1.30am.
Area response manager senior sergeant Brent Cook, said the two men and a woman were among a group of five who went their separate way and "bluffed themselves".
"They wandered off a nice, well marked track," he said.
- Brendon McMahon
