A Coastguard Whangaroa vessel couldn't reach the group because of large swells. Photo: Supplied
Four people have made it safely back to land after their boat flipped during a fishing trip in the Far North this evening.
Northland police Search and Rescue's Sergeant Shane Turner said the inflatable Takacat rolled when it was hit by a wave near Cone Rock, north of Taupō Bay.
The two spearfishers and two passengers managed to swim to rocks at the bottom of a steep cliff.
A Coastguard Whangaroa vessel was unable to approach due to large swells, so a rope team was deployed from Whangārei to attempt a rescue from land.
However, the group managed to scale the cliff themselves before the rescue crew arrived, and were picked up by a farm manager just after 6pm.
Turner said all four were adequately wetsuited and equipped, including with a waterproof cellphone. They raised the alarm by climbing rocks until they got a cellphone signal.
"They did all the right things," he said.
No one was injured and their boat had been recovered.
The group was believed to be staying at Tauranga Bay.