A 'missing' tourist in Queenstown turned out to be not-so-missing after finding her own way to safety during a police search for her.
Police were alerted to a missing woman in the Ben Lomond Reserve above Skyline Gondola at 6:15pm yesterday.
A search lasted until midnight, stopping because of the darkness and difficult terrain.
The woman called the station at 9am today to say she was safe.
She was found by two to other tourists who were walking the track and helped her back down the gondola track last night.
Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Watt says while they're happy the woman is safe, they're disappointed she didn't call when she was back home safe.
"There was significant police resource used last night and mobilising this morning," he says.
"We could've redeployed or utilised those resources better."
Six search and rescue and police members were out looking last night and seven volunteers and police were working this morning.
Snr Sgt Watt says he will be speaking with the woman and providing her with information about what she should do next time.
Newshub.
