Hiker dies, group of Chinese tourists rescued after unprepared trek at Cradle Mountain

A woman has died and a group of Chinese tourists were rescued after venturing on a hike at Cradle Mountain without the preparation needed for Tasmania's extreme weather. The group set out Friday afternoon and quickly faced cold, windy conditions and other difficulties in the alpine terrain, authorities said.

The rescue effort began when a separate group of hikers located the tourists and alerted emergency services. Extreme weather prevented a helicopter from reaching the area, so ground teams traveled on foot through rugged terrain to reach the group and camped with them overnight before moving out on Saturday. Tasmania Police Inspector Steve Jones said the hikers were not prepared for bushwalking and that Tasmania's weather can change quickly, particularly in alpine areas.

The group did not have the appropriate equipment or a personal locator beacon, which prevented them from raising the alarm. One woman, believed to be in her early 30s, was confirmed dead; other members were not physically injured. The deceased's identity has not yet been released and a police investigation is underway.

Bushwalkers in Tasmania are advised to carry warm clothing, sufficient food and water, a charged mobile phone, a map and a personal locator beacon or other emergency communication devices at all times, particularly in alpine or remote areas where weather can shift rapidly. Separately, police were called to the Hobart hinterland on Friday after a hiker found a woman's body in a popular lake. Police cordoned off a section of the Hobart Rivulet as investigators work to determine the circumstances; the woman is preliminarily described as being in her early 30s and is yet to be identified.