Group of friends rescued from Gold Coast bush track

Three women are recovering after spending hours stuck on a Gold Coast bush track.

Paige Hudson and Taryn Duvauchelle set off on a 16km hike with their friend Taylor in Springbrook yesterday afternoon.

As the women, aged in their 20s, began the trek back to their car, Taylor became unwell.

"Taylor kept on stopping like every five steps and at first we were like 'you can do it, you can do it'," Ms Hudson told 9News.

With little power left on their mobile phones, the women were able to call Triple Zero before the battery cut out.

Emergency crews set off to search for the women as night descended and temperatures dropped to 13C.

Eventually, a rescue helicopter flew overhead and the women used a torch to get its attention while they huddled for warmth.

"It was a very difficult – long protracted recovery, two of the girls were able to walk, unfortunately the third young girl is unwell and had to be carried out," Queensland Ambulance spokesman Doug Armstrong told 9News.

The women were found 4km down the track, three hours after they called for help.

"We literally thought they weren't going to find us, we thought we were going to be here overnight," Ms Duvauchelle said.

Taylor was taken to Robina Hospital where she was treated for dehydration and a pre-existing medical condition.