A rescue team walked through heavy snow on Saturday night to reach a family stranded in the Mount Field National Park in Tasmania’s south.
The family, two adults and three children, had set out on a planned day walk on Saturday, but weather conditions changed and became dangerous.
Just after 4:30pm the family called police when they were no longer able to access the walking track after heavy snow.
The family spent the night at Newdegate Hut. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)
Search coordinator Callum Herbert said the walkers were advised to return to nearby Newdegate Hut and wait for the rescue team to arrive.
He said there was about 30 centimetres of snow in the area.
There was about 30 centimetres of snow in the area overnight on Saturday. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)
“Due to the extreme weather conditions, the helicopter wasn’t able to reach the area, so a search and rescue team of police and Ambulance Tasmania wilderness paramedics was sent in on foot,” Mr Herbert said.
“The rescue team reached the walkers at the hut shortly before midnight, finding them all safe, but cold and wet.
“Given their condition and the hazardous environment, including strong winds and nearly one foot [30cm] of snow, we determined it was unsafe to walk them out during the night.
“Medical assistance, food and sleeping bags were provided overnight to ensure everyone could remain safely sheltered.”
The rescue helicopter was used on Sunday morning once conditions allowed. (Supplied: Tasmania Police)
The rescue helicopter was sent in on Sunday morning once conditions allowed.
The family was then taken to the park’s visitor centre about 10:30am.
“We are thankful the walkers were able to reach emergency services by phone yesterday, or the outcome could easily have been far worse,” Mr Herbert said.Low snow in southern Tasmania
Hobart woke to a mountain covered in snow on Sunday morning. (ABC News: Matt Growcott)
Snow settled to around 400-500 metres in the early hours of Sunday morning about the south of the state.
Hobart’s Kunanyi/Mount Wellington received a healthy dump of snow.
Another cold night is forecast for Sunday, with a low of 3 degrees Celsius expected in Hobart and 1C in Launceston.