A group of New Zealand and Australian hikers attacked by bandits in a remote part of Papua New Guinea suffered knife wounds and had to walk six hours to reach help.
Daniel King, husband of trek leader Christie King, told AAP the group of eight Australians, one New Zealander and a group of 15 local porters were attacked at about 3.30pm on Tuesday. Two PNG porters were killed.
They were attacked by bandits, said to be armed with knives and machetes, while walking on the Black Cat track between Wau and Salamaua in Morobe province in northern PNG.
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority spokeswoman Georgia Gregerson said the New Zealander had been injured but not seriously.
"The New Zealander is now safe," she said.She had no details on whether it was a man or woman, or the extent of their injuries.
''Everything's ok, in terms of the group,'' King said.
''A few of them have cuts and bruises and stitches. We have a plan now to get them out this afternoon.''
''They were about six hours out. They were at their first camp when the incident happened, and they had to walk with injuries.''
After the attack the hikers decided to leave the porters and seek help, heading in the same direction as their fleeing attackers. Helicopters were being sent to pick up the injured porters.
Gregerson said she understood the injured hikers were being taken to Salemaua which is a trail entry point and would later today be moved to Lae.
She said she expected they would leave the country tomorrow. The trek was organised by a major Port Moresby company, PNG Trekking Adventures. They declined comment on the incident.
The Black Cat Track runs between Wau and Salamaua in northern PNG.
It was the scene of bitter fighting between Australian and US troops and Japanese forces in 1943. It is regarded as one of the most arduous walks in PNG.
- Fairfax and AAP