At about 7pm, the 38 people who were stuck on a 1370m-high hill above Piano Flat, near Roxburgh, filed into the Roxburgh Rugby Club to receive medical treatment, food and water.
The stranded adventurers spent the night in their vehicles, relying on car heaters for warmth.
Rescued man Daniel Cockery, of Winton, said his group was "well equipped" when they went up.
"But obviously we got caught up in the weather so there was not much else we could do about that."
It was a "wrong place, wrong time" situation, he said.
It was "quite relieving" seeing the rescue vehicles arrive, he said.
"They've done a great job."
His father Charles Cockery, of Winton, said he realised the group was stuck at 6pm Sunday and kept in constant contact with his son until he was saved.
They were rescued in a large snowmobile vehicles known as snowcats.
From there they were driven to a bus which transported the group to the rugby club where emergency services were stationed.
Trying conditions
Two snowcats were used in "trying conditions" to rescue 38 people from heavy snow-covered Central Otago high country this afternoon.
Otago Lakes-Central area commander Inspector Olaf Jensen said the group, which included two children, aged 8 and 6, were all "safe and well".
Prolonged severe weather conditions hampered the rescue and resulted in snowcats being used to transport the people below the snowline, after the rough weather ruled out a helicopter retrieval from Waikaia Bush Rd, above Piano Flat, he said.
"Those weather issues still exist and we're led to believe the snowcats coming down the mountain are still coming through quite trying conditions'' Insp Jensen said earlier this afternoon, as the rescue was under way.
The conditions included snowdrifts up to 1.8m deep.
The group of 4WD enthusiasts from Southland became stuck in snow yesterday afternoon.
Insp Jensen said the group was being be taken to a centre in Roxburgh, staffed by Red Cross and Civil Defence personnel, and would be checked by medical staff, fed and then transported home.
It was a very pleasing result for a major rescue operation, he said.
Asked about the group heading in to the high country when rough weather was forecast, Insp Jensen said people heading on 4WD drive treks should be well-prepared for bad weather and consider "the timing".
The main thing to focus on at this time was the safe rescue of the group and all other matters would be discussed during a later debriefing, he said.
The group had been conserving its food and was given advice today about conserving fuel.
It was "reasonably well prepared" he said.
If they had to spend another night on the Old Man Range, the weather forecast was for similar rough conditions to today, he said.
It was a difficult rescue and it was unusual to use snowcats, although not the first time they had been used in such circumstances in Central Otago. Snow ploughs from a southern ski field had also been borrowed, to clear the path for the snowcats if needed.
Supplies dwindling
Earlier, Helicopters Otago managing director Graeme Gale said a helicopter flew two Alpine Cliff Rescue members to within 1km of the trapped people, which allowed communication with snowcat drivers.
"We took them in as far as we could," he said.
The weather was "just rubbish'' so and they were unable to get any closer, he said.
Supplies had been dwindling and there had been fears the group were set to spend another afternoon in their vehicles.
One of those trapped, with her two young children, Gemma Dodd said, this morning, diesel supplies were running low.
She had spent the night in a 4WD, with her two young children, Matthew (10) and Narzyna (8).
Earlier rescue attempts fruitless
Several attempts by the Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust crew to reach the group of 36 had proven fruitless, as heavy rain and low visibility halted helicopters from reaching the site.
Emergency services cordoned off the Roxburgh Rugby Club as a base for the operation.
"Every effort is being made to reach them as soon as we can to ensure their well-being," a police statement said earlier.
A person at the helicopter base couldn't comment on the specifics of the operation, as she wasn't directly involved, but said the cloud that had made it impossible for helicopter crew to get in had lifted slightly.
Ms Dodd, confirmed around 11am today they were still stuck in their vehicle and had not heard from any of the rescuers.
"We are still waiting".
Ms Dodd told the New Zealand Herald this morning: "We've got a few blankets but it will be good to get out of here."
The convoy of about 15 vehicles was near the end of its trail when it was hit by a sudden snowstorm.
Ms Dodd said the snow came in thick and fast and that even the group's strongest vehicles could not push through.
The group had been spread out over 100m and a number of the vehicles are buried in snow.
Ms Dodd said the conditions were not too bad in the 4WD at first, but then their vehicle lost battery power and it was very cold.
They managed to get connected to another truck and they were able to keep warm, but supplies were beginning to run low.
Difficult area
The group is understood to be near a location known as "Potters". A person familiar with the area says it is possible for the road to be closed by snow drifts several metres deep.
Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust chief pilot Graeme Gale said an air rescue was the only possible option as snow banks of up to 2m prevented a land-based rescue.
Cloud had, however, made it difficult for the helicopter crew to get in early this morning.
"They aren't far off the main road, but they are up at 4500 feet, that's the issue," he said. "The cloud is based down to 3000 feet.
"They are just in the wrong place."
Central Otago 4WD Club Brent Wilson said the rugged off-road track would be pose a challenge for rescuers if they were to attempt to bring out the stricken convoy by land.
"We had a rescue that took more than seven hours three weeks ago and we took four vehicles up to rescue just one vehicle and that was when it was dry."
He described it as an area that you don't want to take lightly.
"Even in summer it's a pretty tough road and what people don't realise is that a couple of feet of snow can make quite a difference to a track and that can happen in a short space of time."
"I've been up there and gone from brilliant sunshine to near white-out conditions in five minutes. It can change pretty rapidly up there."
He said the Southland 4WD enthusiasts were from an experienced club.
"They are a pretty well-prepared bunch but I'd suggest the rescuers are going to have every bit of difficulty getting to them," said Mr Wilson.
"It's not a particularly easy bit of ground to get through, particularly if the weather is as bad as it has been."
Overnight rescue efforts were suspended at 1.30am with rescuers just 2km shy of the stranded vehicles and this morning severe weather continued to prevent rescue via land or air.
MetService duty forecaster Jasmine Kennedy said snow was forecast to continue to fall in the Old Man Range until late morning when it would ease off.
"There will still be snow showers but it should ease off late morning so it won't be as bad as it is right now," she said.
Cameraman Damon Forde said the weather was atrocious this morning. "There's snow drifts and blowing snow and high winds."
People on fundraising expeditions often travelled across the "paper road" and vehicles regularly became "bogged out", he said. "There are massive swamps up on the top ... it's pretty rough country."
Mr Shanks said the road was usually closed over winter.
The incident follows a Fairfax report on April 28 about concerns for the state of Waikaia Bush Rd, where a number of vehicles have had to be towed out after becoming stuck.
It was understood at least six vehicles were towed out last month.
Southland District Council roading engineer Bruce Miller told Fairfax the road would be closed at Queen's Birthday Weekend for the winter.
By Lynda van Kempen, Jono Edwards and NZ Herald
