A police Eagle helicopter has been used in the search. File photo Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers
Police were called to the Tasman Lookout Track just after 6.30pm on Sunday.
The track has been closed since February because of cyclone damage.
The Eagle helicopter was sent out, and officers on board spotted the man about 20m off the track and 40m above the shore.
Fire and Emergency brought in a specially trained team from Auckland to help, and the tourist was rescued about an hour later.
Fire and Emergency's Mike Manning told Morning Report the man missed warning signage and ended up going into a restricted area, then had a fall.
"He was very humble, he was very frightened, he'd been up there for about an hour-and-a-half, two hours. As you would imagine he tried to self-extricate a number of times but realised he was in a very precarious position so was hanging on."
Manning said he was safe and unscathed, and was lucky to have not suffered any injuries.
Seven Fire and Emergency crews were sent to the scene, along with police and ambulance staff.