The female students were rescued about 11pm after becoming lost on what was supposed to be an hour-long run on the Dunedin hill.
There were initially four in the group, who set off about 6.30pm, but one turned back near the beginning.
Conditions were clear when they started, but then a dense cold fog descended and they lost sight of the track.
One of the women, who did not want to be named, said yesterday the experience was still sinking in.
Despite having puffer jackets, they still felt ''quite a chill'' as the sun set.
''The search and rescue team were amazing. They came with jackets, beanies, gloves, food, water. We really want to thank them.''
There was about 10m of visibility and the track outline became less and less clear.
''It just felt like we were in the clouds.
''We got into this dense bush part and it went downhill from there.''
They tried to use Google Maps to find their way, but it led them astray, she said.
Two of the group's cellphones died by this point, so they called the friend who turned back and called emergency services.
A 32-member search party of police and volunteers was sent to rescue them.
After keeping in contact with police via phone for a couple of hours, they heard voices call out. The women were found, checked and declared healthy.
''Personally, I felt quite calm. We had each other and I knew we would be rescued eventually.''
Sergeant Richard Panting said there was not too much more the women could have done to avoid getting lost.
''Conditions were fine when they went out. They got lost because of very heavy fog.''
They aided rescue efforts by staying put, which made it easier for the search parties to reach them, he said.
He recommended anyone running or walking in forested areas carry charged cellphones and tell people where they were going. Rescues in that area were uncommon, he said.
