A woman who failed to return after a run on a Kaimai track has been found.

Police say she is in good health and fortunate she'd conveyed her intentions to family before leaving.

The alarm was raised around 3pm when police received a call from the 42-year-old Tauranga woman's husband.

The runner had travelled with her husband and two children to the Leyland O'Brien Tramway Track at the end of Whakamarama Road.

They all set off at 11am and the woman intended to run the track to the North/South junction and back again, where she would meet up with the rest of the family who were walking the same track.

After she failed to return a search by the husband did not locate her. He then called police.

The Tauranga Land Search & Rescue volunteers and the Trust-Power TECT Rescue Helicopter were deployed and the female was located by a ground team just before 6pm.

Tauranga Police Search & Rescue Sergeant Craig Madden says after crossing a stream, the runner had mistaken an old tramway track for the main track.

"Once she realised she had taken a wrong turn she tried to reorient herself without success. She made the right decision and stayed put, built herself a bivy for shelter believing she may have to spend the night in the bush."

Craig says friends of the family had entered the bush to look for the woman before the search teams had arrive.

"Although they had the best intentions and we had a great result, this can contaminate clues for the tracking teams. We can use the help of friends and family at times but we need to do this in a controlled manner. This ensures the safety of everyone involved.”

The runner was found in good health in a reason time because she had left her trip intentions with her husband who raised the alarm. She was also carrying a small amount of food and extra clothing.

Craig says running the bush tracks is becoming a very common practice and suggested runners take with them a map and compass as a means of assisting them should they before disorientated if they are not familiar with the area.