An aborted dusk parapenting expedition by a Swiss paragliding instructor across Lake Wakatipu on Tuesday night sparked a full-scale maritime emergency callout.
Constable Terry Wood, of Queenstown, said the man had hiked up Cecil Peak and launched near the summit about 9.15pm.
Forecast conditions had been fine and the man (44) had planned to glide across to the diagonally opposite Sunshine Bay but turned back when wind strengthened.
A Fernhill resident spotted the man dipping into the lake behind Hidden Island and - thinking he was in trouble - contacted police.
However, the man was being followed by friends in a boat who picked him up and took him to Sunshine Bay, Const Wood said.
Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black said the Queenstown Coastguard, police and commercial operators were all mobilised.
The Paraflights jet was dispatched first, followed by the coastguard.
The TSS Earnslaw was diverted on standby from Walter Peak, and Kawarau Jet was also called to assist.
"I spoke to the guy and said: `You guys need to be a bit more responsible,' but he had his own pick-up boat.
"It put quite a lot of people to a lot of trouble, but all's well that ends well, and thanks to all the guys that turned out.
"The only thing these guys neglected to do was let people know what the heck they were doing.
The person who rang it in did the right thing," Mr Black said.
Police confirmed the man would not face any disciplinary action over the incident.
