A team of rescuers and a police dog have battled blustery winds, snow and ice to save an Australian couple from spending a night in freezing conditions in the central North Island.

Police said the pair, in their 20s, set out hiking in the Kaimanawa Ranges on Saturday, but took a wrong turn on Sunday and were forced to spend the night in a makeshift shelter in the bush.

The couple couldn't find their way out on Monday morning, so called the police.

After cellphone contact was lost police made the call to bring in the search team and a police dog and its handler to help find the hikers.

The searchers and the dog had to battle blizzard conditions, snow and ice in exposed places before they eventually found the couple last night.

Police said things would have been "dire" if the couple had been forced to spend another night in the bush.