Melbourne hiker missing in Tasmania as bushwalkers found amid blizzard

Several bushwalkers have been rescued from blizzard-like weather in Tasmania as the search continues for a missing Victorian hiker who last contacted his family a week ago.

Michael Bowman, 57, was due to finish a walk at Lake St Clair visitor centre in the state's Central Highlands on Saturday but still hasn't arrived.

Police and SES crews battled freezing and snowy conditions on Monday in the hunt for Mr Bowman.

Bad weather forced the grounding of a rescue helicopter in the morning but it is hoped it can resume searching on Tuesday.

Mr Bowman, who is from Mt Waverley, has an emergency beacon but it has not been activated.

Michael Bowman, 57, of Mt Waverley, is an experienced bushwalker.Credit: Tasmania Police

Police believe he had set up camp in a sheltered area to do day walks in the Mt Cuvier region before bad weather struck.

"Obviously the communications up there are very poor, we haven't had an update since he contacted his family," Acting Inspector Phil Curtis said. "I understand that he's an experienced bushwalker and he certainly has been in remote areas before."

The temperature at Cradle Mountain area drops below zero and snow is understood to be a metre deep around some tracks after a weekend cold front.

The freezing weather has caught several hikers off guard, including a Brisbane man aged in his mid-40s who was rescued by helicopter on Monday afternoon after getting into trouble at Lake Petrarch near Lake St Clair.

Earlier in the day, two NSW hikers were plucked from the Walls of Jerusalem National Park to the south.

The pair put out an emergency call on Sunday after finding the conditions too difficult to continue walking.

In a separate search mission, bad conditions prevented crews from reaching a Western Australian father and daughter in Lake St Clair National Park.

The pair on Sunday afternoon told family they were having trouble in blizzard-like conditions.

Police say they are experienced hikers with suitable equipment and are making their way to Pelion Hut, from where authorities will decide if they need help.

About 30 walkers are in Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park, including a school group of about 10 from Hobart.

Search crews are hoping to use a helicopter to reach and check huts along trails on Tuesday.

Authorities have urged people not to go bushwalking unless they are fully prepared for freezing weather.

"People should carefully consider whether they need to go into that area at the moment," Inspector Curtis said.

Mr Bowman is about 180cm tall and was carrying a grey pack and wearing a red or orange jacket and dark pants, and thought to be using a yellow or mustard tent.

AAP