A Kapiti coast couple have been guided out of the Tararua Ranges by search and rescue members.
The couple, aged 30 and 20, started out from Otaki Forks on the Southern Crossing track across the Tararuas on Tuesday bound for Carterton in the Wairarapa.
Gale-force winds and snow stranded them at Kime Hut - the highest hut on the track.
Sergeant Noel Bigwood of the Western Tararua Search and Rescue says the couple were safe but had run out of food and gas.
Three land search and rescue team members were flown in to the area on Saturday and dropped off two hours from the hut - as close as the helicopter could get in the poor weather conditions.
They then tramped the remaining distance to Kime Hut.
The party then walked halfway back to Otaki Forks before being picked up by helicopter.
