More Lost tourists!

Three tourists missing in outback
February 27, 2008 - 2:11PM

Two Japanese men and a French woman have gone missing in the outback of central Australia after setting off on two separate treks.

An air and ground search is now under way for the three tourists, police said.

Last night, the Japanese tourists failed to arrive from the Valley of the Winds walk at The Olgas.

The men had been dropped off at the start of the walk about 2pm (CST) yesterday by a bus that returned to collect them 3½ hours later.

But the men - who were due to fly out of Yulara this morning - failed to return from the trek, and park rangers mounted a ground search last night.

The search was suspended at nightfall, but it resumed at first light today with the help of a helicopter.

A helicopter is also being used in the search for a 22-year-old French woman who set out on a walk at Kings Canyon on Sunday.

She registered the planned walk with Parks and Wildlife rangers before setting out on the Giles Track from Kings Canyon about 11.30am (CST).

She was expected to complete the 22-kilometre walk about midday on Monday after camping overnight, police said.

She told a friend she would walk to Kathleen Springs and then try to hitch a ride to Kings Creek Station.

Rangers alerted police about 8.15pm (CST) last night after she failed to notify them of her arrival.

Searchers set off at first light today while a helicopter scanned the terrain.

The search team includes rangers, Northern Territory Emergency Services volunteers and police.

AAP