Police are impressed with staff after a horrific accident at a Queenstown tourism site this afternoon

Five people from one family have been injured - two critically - after a tree fell on them in strong winds at the Shotover Jet base.

Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis says it's an unfortunate case of being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

But he says staff and bystanders did a great job rendering medical assistance while waiting for ambulances.

A message on the Shotover Jet Facebook page says they're focusing on supporting the injured people, their whanau and the Shotover team.