A hiker who was reported missing on Monday and spent the night trapped in the Watagan Mountains with specialist operations police as they worked to get him home has been rescued.
The man in his 20s was reported missing mid-morning.
It was not until about 8.30pm that the Police Rescue Unit and special operations police were able to find him in the bush.
Due to conditions at the location and the fact that the man had suffered an ankle injury, police had to remain with the man in the Watagan Mountains overnight.
A Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew rushed to the location on Tuesday morning to winch the man to safety.
The mountain range is located about one hour from Newcastle between the Upper Hunter River catchment, Tuggerah Lakes and Lake Macquarie.
The range includes several camping areas and four wheel drive roads, but some spots can be quite steep and remote with risky areas of wilderness.
