First of rescued Aussie climbers home

heavy snow on New Zealand's highest peak for 36 hours.

Hugs and tears greeted the climbers as family members and a throng of media awaited the arrival of Terry Cole, Melissa Clerke, Gerald Osman and Jennie Landon, at SydneyAirport.

The group, all from Sydney, were rescued Saturday morning after becoming trapped in a blizzard on Mt Cook. They were forced to huddle together in a small tent asrescuers tried to find them.

Mr Cole, from Parramatta, said he was more relieved to arrive in Sydney even thoughthe group had been out of harm's way since Saturday.

"It's great to be finally home," he told reporters.

"I'm just really relieved to get back safe and sound after the ordeal up there.

"And I'm just glad it's all over ... and I'm looking forward to sleeping in a bed tonight." Ms Clerke, 27, from Granville, was relaxed and more concerned about what her familyand those of her hiking partners had to endure.

"It's a bit strange for us, because we're kind of up on the mountain and I think it's actually the people back down here at home that went through more trauma thanwe went through," she said.

David Freelands was due home tonight, while the sixth climber, Stephen Dolphin,remained in New Zealand.