A tramper's been airlifted to Lakes Hospital in Queenstown with minor head injuries after spending a night missing in the wilderness

A locator beacon had been set off at Broderick Hut in the Hopkins Valley area near Aoraki/Mt Cook this morning after two men, aged in their sixties, became separated last night.

The man who set off the beacon told police it was his companion who was missing.

The Rescue Coordination Centre says two hunters who had been at the hut offered to help with the search on foot and located the man.

His injuries are not life threatening.