Hunter missing in Nelson Lakes National Park walks to safety

LATEST: A hunter who was missing in the Southern Alps south of Nelson has made his way to safety, say police.

Tony Manson, 35, walked out of the area, south to a farmhouse about 9am this morning.

A search was launched after he failed to arrive at a pre-arranged time at the Sabine Hut, at the southern end of Lake Rotoroa, yesterday.

Mr Manson had been hunting alone while other members of his party hunted the western side of the lake.

Sergeant Mike Fi tzsimons of Nelson Search and Rescue said Mr Manson had walked out to a farmhouse about 9am this morning.

"He was disorientated and that probably had quite a bit to do with the fact he didn't have sufficient equipment or experience."

Mr Manson didn't have a compass, GPS system or map with him," Mr Fitzsimons told NZPA.

He said if Mr Manson had had the right equipment he could have made it to a hut 4km away, instead of tramping about 20km to the farmhouse .

Two search and rescue teams looked for Mr Manson last night, and five more teams were sent to the area this morning.