The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked from Tamworth to the Long Mountain area near Curlewis, south of Gunnedah, on Saturday afternoon.

They responded to reports a 20-year-old man fell from a bike after hitting a tree in dense bushland.

The man suffered a badly broken leg, the chopper service confirmed.

The rugged terrain, which was four-wheel-drive access only, meant the the chopper had to winch a rescue team in to the patient.

He was assessed and treated by a doctor and paramedic at the scene and then placed on a stretcher before being winched out.

The chopper service said the patient was flown to Tamworth hospital in a stable condition.