Two female trampers missing from a day tramp on Sunday were found by Land Search and Rescue volunteers this afternoon after spending over 24 hours in the Kaimai Ranges.

They were able to walk from the bush with Land Search and Rescue Volunteers.

The women aged 68 and 76 were found at around 3pm after a combined effort from up to 50 people, including Police and volunteers from Land Search and Rescue, along with Amateur Radio Emergency Communication members.

Area Commander, inspector Clifford Paxton, said: 'Western Bay of Plenty Police would like to thank all the volunteers involved in this Search and Rescue operation and for their outstanding efforts over the last three weeks with four other Search and Rescue operations occurring in the Western Bay of Plenty during this time.

'Operations such as these require a large number of personnel, many of whom are trained volunteers who give up their time to assist Police. Their efforts and the time they donate to these search operations is greatly appreciated.”

The women told family they planned to walk the Ngamarama Track, known as the Te Tuhi track, and the Leyland O'Brien tracks, which are accessed from the top of Whakamarama Road.

The Leyland O'Brien Tramway track follows an old logging tramline through the bush, connecting Whakamarama to the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park.

From the Whakamarama Road end, where the two women left their car, the track descends down for 100m to the junction of the Leyland O'Brien Tramline and Ngamarama Tracks.

Leyland O'Brien Tramline Track continues southwest to meet up with the North-South Track. Trampers can either return the same way back to Whakamarama Rd or follow the North South Track to the north and take the Ngamarama Track back to Whakamarama Road, which is the route the missing women were expected to take.

If they took the left track, following the old tramline besides the headwaters of the Ngamuwahine River, they would have come to a river crossing before the tramline climbs to the junction with the Ngamuwahine track - an hour and 30 mins from Ngamuwahine Road.