A Victorian hiker who was missing in snowy Tasmanian wilderness for several days has been discovered alive.
Search crews had spent two days looking for Michael Bowman, 57, in the state's Central Highlands after he failed to return from a bushwalk on Saturday.
He was found on Tuesday afternoon in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and is being taken by helicopter to the Royal Hobart Hospital for precautionary medical checks.
Tasmanian police say Mr Bowman was found at his campsite just before 4pm, after spending approximately 10 days in his tent, separated from the rest of his belongings.
Mr Bowman set up camp at Mt Cuvier and went on a short day walk to Coal Hill where he placed his pack down and then became separated from it when heavy fog descended on the area.
He was then unable to locate his pack and spent a night in the cold at Coal Hill until the next day when he followed his footprints back to his tent and stayed there for approximately until he was rescued.
Efforts to find Mr Bowman, an experienced bushwalker from Mt Waverley, had been hampered by heavy snow.
It is believed he had an emergency beacon with him but it's not known if that was activated.
“Mr Bowman’s survival is a reflection of his level of skill and experience in the wilderness. He did all the right things in order to survive in the conditions he found himself in,” Search Controller Senior Constable Kristy Eyles said.
“He took his pack and his EPIRB with him on his day walk, he left a small amount of food with his tent and when he became stranded he made his way back to his tent to await rescue.
“For anyone with less experience this could have been a very different result. Thankfully, he was in good health when he was rescued.”
Several bushwalkers have been rescued by helicopter from the Cradle Mountain area in recent days, including a British man and Hobart school group from Dove Lake on Tuesday.
A West Australian father and his daughter who became stranded by snow in the region two days ago have also been retrieved safe and well.
They were reached by a search party on Tuesday afternoon and were flown by helicopter to safety.
The man's partner Tracey Koziniec told the ABC they were well-equipped for the cold.
"They slept warm and had a warm breakfast," she said.
"I am happy and aware there are other families who have not slept as well last night."
Helicopters are checking every hut on the popular Overland Track for bushwalkers who may be in trouble.
Police have arrested an adult and youth, who were thought to be missing, over the theft of a car near Lake Pedder in the state's rugged southwest.
They are trying to find a second youth, and have concerns for their welfare given the weather.
Police search crews responding to a distress call in Tasmania. Source: Tasmania Police
Bushwalkers including a Brisbane man aged in his 40s also had to be rescued on Monday from the northwest end of Lake St Clair.
Another two NSW hikers were plucked from the Walls of Jerusalem National Park to the south earlier in the day.
People are urged not to go bushwalking unless they are well-prepared for freezing weather.
The temperature at Lake St Clair dropped to 2C overnight, with strong winds and rain expected to wash away the weekend snow dump.
