Northern Territory Police have found a French tourist reported missing yesterday after air and ground searches in the West MacDonnell Ranges
The 64-year-old tourist was reported missing when she failed to return from a bushwalk near Ormiston Gorge 135 kilometres west of Alice Springs.
The woman was expected to return to the Ormiston Gorge campground around lunchtime yesterday.
She was reportedly found in a healthy condition after became disorientated and camping overnight.
Police searches began for the woman about 5:00pm yesterday when her husband alerted rangers to her disappearance.
NT Police said she left the campground area at Ormiston Gorge about 10:00am yesterday to hike the Pound Walk — a nine-kilometre loop trail estimated to take between three to four hours.
Police conducted searches late into the evening last night and deployed a helicopter in ramped-up efforts this morning.
During the search efforts, Alice Springs watch commander Shaun Furniss said the tourist was "an experienced bushwalker and often walks alone".
"She's in good health and was carrying a couple of litres of water with her," he said
Reports of missing tourists in the MacDonnell Ranges provoke grave concern for local emergency services after two bushwalking tourist deaths in the area in the past two years.
In January 2018 Californian Matt Palazzolo was found dead after taking a wrong turn in 42-degree heat on a climb to Mount Sonder.
In January this year the body of German tourist and experienced bushwalker Monika Billen was found near Emily Gap, in the East MacDonnell Ranges, 10 kilometres east of Alice Springs.
