Police believe three men approached the woman, 20, near a roundabout and pinned her to the ground in the early hours of Sunday. The group then took turns indecently assaulting her.

One of the men then allegedly raped her, before the trio left her unconscious on the ground.

Police have described the attack in the middle of the town as "disgusting" and "brazen".

Port Macquarie Acting Superintendent Steve Clarke said the woman had been with friends at Altitude nightclub on William Street and left about 2.30am.

She told police she was walking along a footpath when a group approached her near the intersection of William and Murray streets – less than a few blocks from the nightclub.

After the group fled, a passer-by found the woman and called police.

“The seriousness, where it’s occurred and the obvious impact on the girl – it’s just disgusting,” Acting Superintendent Clarke said.

“The poor girl would be ... I don’t know the right words to describe it. Obviously she would be devastated.”

The woman was taken to Port Macquarie Hospital where she received treatment for her injuries.

Acting Superintendent Clarke is hoping someone may have seen the group before or after the attack, especially because it occurred in the middle of the central business district.

"We are really keen to hear from anyone," he said.

Police have described one of the attackers as of "Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, aged in his early 20s, with short, brown spiky hair and bushy eyebrows, wearing a red and white striped shirt and blue jeans".

The other two men were only described as aged in their 20s.

Police were reviewing footage taken from nearby businesses and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.