An Australian tourist has been taken to hospital after a brutal assault in Queenstown

Sergeant Kate Pirovano says the 22-year-old man and a friend were outside Fergburger about 4am today, when he was attacked by an unidentified man.

She says the offender turned up wanting to fight, and assaulted the victim after causing another scuffle nearby.

Sergeant Pirovano says the victim was headbutted and punched several times in the face, before having his head slammed into a concrete bin when he tried to escape.