KEY POINTS:
Queenstown police are hunting men who viciously attacked three visitors early on Saturday morning, kicking them into unconsciousness.
Detective Sergeant Grahme Bartlett said the attack happened outside the Waterfront Apartments on Lake Esplanade about 1.45am on Saturday.
Emergency services found three Bay of Islands men lying within metres of each other with serious head and facial injuries.
Witness reported seeing a group of three or four men kicking the victims, he said.
"It was a very serious assault," Mr Bartlett told NZPA.
The three victims, aged 38, 42 and 51, were bleeding heavily, with cuts and bruises to their heads and faces, and black eyes.
Mr Bartlett said the men were visiting Queenstown as part of a motorcycle tour and had been returning to their accommodation after a night socialising.
A woman in the apartments called police.
The three were treated at Lakes District Hospital and discharged on Saturday.
Police were looking for three or four attackers aged between 18 and 25.
One was described as "chubby and thickset" with another "taller with an olive complexion" wearing a tight-fitting T-shirt.
Police were appealing for information.
- NZPA
