Police on board the Westpac Rescue Helicopter rescued a missing hiker from the Lake Mackenzie area on the state’s central plateau this afternoon.

The 59-year-old Victorian hiker was reported missing to Tasmania Police last night by concerned relatives in Victoria after he failed to return his rental car and catch his flight home.

The man had set off along the Blue Peaks Track on Sunday and was well equipped, however, snow fall Wednesday night and continuing inclement weather prevented the man from walking out.

Following an aerial search, around 2pm today police located the man uninjured sheltering in his tent near Middle Lake. He was airlifted out of the area and back to his rental car.