Police said they were notified about 9.30pm of a vehicle crash on Beach Rd, near Gees Rd Kakanui, in the Waitaki District.
A vehicle had driven off a grass lay-by over a seven-metre-high cliff down on to the beach with the tide and seas just reaching the vehicle, police said.
The two occupants were stranded on the small gravel beach, surrounded by high wet cliffs.
Helicopters Otago chief executive Graeme Gale said the rescued pair were "very lucky".
The incident could have had an "absolutely tragic ending", but fortunately the rescue helicopter was able to get there in a very short space of time.
Low cloud, waves, cliffs and rocks made for a relatively complex rescue operation.
The helicopter crew had to use night vision goggles while a paramedic was winched down to rescue the car’s occupants.
Ultimately the rescue was "a great outcome", Mr Gale said.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said both men were aged in their early 20s and lived in Oamaru.
They were wet and cold but thankful for the assistance they received.
Sgt Woodbridge said police were continuing to investigate how the crash occurred and asked that people take care near cliffs as both men were very lucky not to have received serious injury.
The driver of the vehicle, a Nissan Pulsar, was transported to Oamaru Hospital with minor injuries and the passenger was checked and released without injury.
