Two travellers have been found safe after spending the night inside their bogged vehicle near Halls Gap in western Victoria.
Murrumbeena resident Arthur Liacopoulos, 50, said he and his partner had been on a weekend trip away from Melbourne when they decided to take a detour through some four-wheel-drive tracks on their way back to Melbourne on Sunday.
Mr Liacopoulos said they reckoned the route identified by their satellite navigation system would be "a bit of adventure", but shortly after setting off, their vehicle became bogged.
"We were trying to get unstuck for about an hour, an hour and a half, couldn't happen, and then we decided that we're going to have to stay overnight and sit in the car," Mr Liacopoulos said.
The next morning, he walked for several hours in an effort to find mobile phone reception and call for help.
Family of the couple raised the alert with authorities after the pair failed to pick up their dogs from family on Sunday evening.
Mr Liacopoulos thanked emergency services for their extensive search for him and his partner.
'Washed out' roads pose risk to drivers
Earlier, Acting Sergeant Kim Talbot said the area the pair were last seen in near Burnt Hut Creek had little phone coverage.
She said weather had restricted the search.
Wimmera Four-Wheel-Drive Club member of 20 years Edward "Jonno" Johnson said the Grampians area had double its annual rainfall this year, meaning it was much easier than normal to get bogged on dirt tracks.
"Every track in the Grampians really hasn't been accessible because it's been too wet," Mr Johnson said.
"Every road I go down to get to that area has a gate on it that's shut, because the roads are washed out and in a bad condition."
Police aircraft and members from Cavendish and Dunkeld had been searching since 9am.
