A German man has been rescued from the Mount Richmond Forest Park near Nelson after becoming unwell while tramping.

The man was tramping south along the Te Araroa Trail towards the Red Hills area when he became unwell yesterday afternoon, said the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.

He spent the night at Tarn Hut and attempted to continue tramping this morning but was still unwell and returned to the hut and activated his emergency locator beacon.

The rescue helicopter has flown him out to Nelson.