Police hunt for missing French Canadian tourists

Louis-Vincent Lessard and Etienne Lemieux of Canada. Photo / Supplied

Police are hunting for two missing Canadian tourists who have gone missing in the South Island.

Family members reported the trampers were overdue on Saturday, police said.

The French-speaking men are Louis-Vincent Lessard and Etienne Lemieux, both 23, of Canada.

The men travelled on an Intercity bus to Te Anau from Queenstown on July 7, arriving about 9.45am.

Their intention was to walk the Kepler Track in Fiordland National park, police said.

Search and Rescue squads and the Queenstown Combined Investigation Branch are both involved in the search.

According to a Facebook page set up to raise awareness of the missing visitors, both men are industrial design students at Universite de Montreal.

The page, on which friends were posting messages of concern, said Mr Lemieux had brown hair and brown eyes, weighed about 84kg and was 1.78m (5'10") tall.

Mr Lessard has brown hair and blue eyes, was about 79kg and roughly the same height as his friend.

Anyone with information can contact the Southern Police District Command Centre on (03) 471 5002.