Three Spanish tourists spent three hours in Te Anau yesterday picking up human waste after being caught by police for defecating on the grass verge at the end of a residential street.

The trio "volunteered" for community work as an alternative to a court appearance, Sergeant Tod Hollebon, of Te Anau, said in a statement yesterday.

Acting on a complaint from a member of the public, police found two women and a man near a rental van, which was not equipped with a toilet.

"There was washing drying on a fence and clearly the group had made themselves at home."

After initially denying their activities, they admitted they had been using an "outside toilet".

They provided no other explanation for their behaviour other than having arrived after dark.

As an alternative to a court appearance, the three tourists volunteered for community service.

They spent three hours "picking up exactly what they and others had deposited" around Te Anau roadside rest areas.

"All parties found this to be a positive outcome," Sgt Hollebon said.