A search and rescue operation has had a happy conclusion in Fiordland.

A 20-year-old French tourist had been missing for 12 hours after not returning from a one-day hike off the Milford Road.

Authorities were first notified he was missing at around 8 last night, and it took LandSAR teams until 1 this morning to locate him at the bottom of a steep ravine.

However, the terrain meant they had to wait until daylight before they rescued him.