Tourist hit on head during hot pool robbery

File photo / Daily Post

A Swiss man was hit over the head when he and his Korean girlfriend were robbed at a tourist spot in Rotorua early today.

Police said the couple had parked their campervan at hot pools on the Waiotapu Loop Road about 3am when a vehicle pulled up next to them.

The 20-year-old man and the 26-year-old woman tried to leave when up to four men and two women, some described as rowdy and intoxicated, got into the hot pools with them.

As the man left the hot pools he was hit over the head.

Some of the couple's belongings were then stolen from their van and their keys were tossed into the hot pools.

After the group left, the pair were able to retrieve their keys and drove to Rotorua Hospital.

The woman was not harmed but the man needed stitches to a cut to his head.

Police were still working with the victims to obtain more details and to identify the exact location of the robbery. The van was also being examined.

"I am sure the community of Rotorua is as keen as I am to make sure that these offenders are arrested at the earliest opportunity," Detective Senior Sergeant Zane Smith said.

Police appealed for anyone with information to come forward.