Two bushwalkers have spent the night with a police officer after they became stranded in a national park west of Kiama at the weekend.
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A search was launched in the Budderoo National Park after a 26-year-old woman, from Tempe, was reported missing at 12.20am on Sunday.
The woman's mother alerted police after she received a call from the missing bushwalker's boyfriend in Melbourne.
The boyfriend said the woman had been walking a track to Gerringong Falls and last made contact via Instagram message, which said she had almost made it to her destination, about 5.30pm on Saturday.
She hadn't been heard from since and her mobile phone had been switched off.
A Lake Illawarra police dog squad officer, and his trusty hound, responded to the national park about 1am and found the woman's vehicle unattended at the Budderoo Plateau Road trail.
A Polair fixed-wing aircraft was also used to scan the area from about about 2am. The plane conducted a 15-minute search, without success.
The woman was located by the officer and his dog about 4am. Police said she was in the company of a male when found.
Given the darkness and limited visibility in the area, the group stayed put overnight and walked out at first light on Sunday, without incident.
No one was injured.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
