Grateful to be safe and warm

While somewhat shell-shocked by all the attention, West Australian couple John and Verity Campbell were in good spirits as they spoke about their 29 hours in North-East Tasmanian wilderness yesterday.

The keen bushwalkers set off on what should have been a one-to- two-hour walk at Branxholm on Thursday morning.

The owner of cottages at the start of the Tin Dragon Trail noticed the Campbells' rented motorhome in the car park in the morning and, knowing the walk took only a couple of hours, raised the alarm when the vehicle had not moved by early evening.

Tasmania Police's search and rescue squad and State Emergency Service volunteers began searching the area soon afterwards, before halting at midnight.

The search resumed at first light yesterday morning with 40 police, SES members and volunteers combing the difficult terrain in increasingly bad weather.

Efforts were assisted with the use of the Tasmanian Mounted Search and Rescue team, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and trail bikes.

There was no trace of the couple until just after 1pm, when news came that the Campbells had crossed the Ringarooma River and made their way to a nearby farming homestead on Legerwood Road.

"We walked along the flume, which we thought was circular, down to a forestry track (on Thursday)," Mrs Campbell, 72, explained, alongside her husband at the Branxholm Fire Station command post.

The pair then became lost, she said.

"When we realised we weren't going to get back before dark, we laid some fern fronds on the ground and sheltered as best we could throughout the night.

"This morning we decided to cross the river, stepping across rocks holding hands, and using a stick to make sure we weren't going in too deep."

They saw the helicopter fly over at 11am.

"We waved, but they didn't see us," Mr Campbell, 78, said.

The couple were last in Tasmania 12 years ago and, while slightly perturbed by the fuss yesterday, both agreed the experience was not going to dampen their holiday spirit.

"We're 16 days into our trip and we've got another three weeks ahead of us," Mrs Campbell said.

"We're going to leave for Scottsdale this afternoon."

Search coordinators Inspector Darren Hopkins and SES Northern regional officer Oliver Breeze said they were pleased with the search effort and expressed their gratitude to volunteers.

"It's surprising the Campbells couldn't hear the searchers, but at the end of the day what's important is they've been found safe and well," Inspector Hopkins said.

"But this is a timely reminder to walkers to always let someone know where you are going."

Mr Breeze said his volunteers, who were taken away from their jobs with the support of their employers, had put in long hours in difficult conditions.

"It's commendable and it makes me proud," he told the assembled group as they packed up the command post.