Two female prospectors missing in rural Queensland have been found by trail bikers after disappearing two days ago.
Queensland Police on Saturday launched a public appeal to help find the women, 54-year-old Michelle Lyn Melbourne and 36-year-old Nikita May Bennett.
Inspector Russell Reynolds said on Sunday the pair had intended to go prospecting at Seven Mile Diggings on Old Esk North Road at Nanango in the South Burnett region but failed to return home on Friday night.
Their white Ford Falcon ute was found at Seven Mile Diggings, an old gold fossicking area, locked and with mobile phones inside.
Just after 8am on Sunday, two trail bike riders found the women in a structure near the search area, he said.
"In a world of dire consequences we've had a good outcome," Insp Reynolds told reporters.
"In this circumstance, we are very lucky that neither of them are injured."
He said one of the women had become ill and they sought shelter near a waterfall, which may have masked their calls for help.
Search efforts were called off on Saturday night as temperatures dropped and the tricky terrain hampered the ability for rescuers to navigate the area.
The women were airlifted to Kingaroy Hospital with non life threatening injuries and are expected to be discharged soon.
