Bobbi April McGeachin, 22, of Perth, was rescued from a home in the exclusive resort town of El Rodadero, near Santa Marta on Colombia's Caribbean coast, after a tip-off from Australian officials.

Ms McGeachin had been able to raise the alarm with her family via the internet and they contacted Australian authorities.

Colombia's anti-kidnapping squad and other agents rescued her on Monday, and arrested a woman over the kidnapping.

"She's very frightened, she just wants to come home. To hear that on the other end of the phone, it's very difficult to deal with," she said.

Ms Gilbert-Den Boer said her daughter was still scared.

Ms McGeachin, looking healthy, appeared on national television yesterday. She has since boarded a flight to Santiago in Chile, where she is awaiting a flight home to Australia.