Senior Sergeant James Ure, of Dunedin, said the woman and her male climbing partner were on a four-day Rabbit Pass trek from Makarora and were negotiating Waterfall Face when she fell.
No further details would be released until the woman's family overseas were notified, Snr Sgt Ure said.
Land Search and Rescue alpine cliff rescue team leader Gary Dickson, of Wanaka, said the woman fell from the top of a steep face.
Whitney Thurlow, chief guide of Aspiring Guides, was nearby and called emergency services on his satellite phone.
When the two St John paramedics arrived at the face, ‘‘the news was not good''.
The woman's body and the ‘‘traumatised'' man were flown by helicopter to Wanaka, Mr Dickson said.
The woman and man had been tramping without a guide.
The four-day trek was "90% great tramping'', but Waterfall Face was a "steep, slippery piece of terrain'', Mr Dickson said.
The weather conditions in the area yesterday were reasonable with no snow.
Both trampers were equipped with suitable gear.
"Sometimes, in some places, if you make the wrong footstep, things like this happen ... it's just one of those unfortunate tragedies.''
Mountain guide Mal Haskins, of Wanaka, said Waterfall Face was the "most dangerous part'' of the four-day trek.
"It's very steep, with little room to make a mistake.''
A Wanaka woman, who did not want to be named, said she had trekked through Waterfall Face many times.
The steep rock face was about 150m high, with snow grass growing on it.
"It's very exposed with nothing to hold on to. I remember doing it and holding on to tiny little bits of grass. It's high-end alpine tramping and you want to be an experienced tramper, who is fit, with good balance and comfortable with having a big open area below you.''
The Department of Conservation website said Waterfall Face was "extremely dangerous when wet, windy or under snow''.
The Aspiring Guides website said its Rabbit Pass trek was suitable for people not afraid of heights and with good balance.
"There is significant exposure to falling, with small footholds and ledges. Sometimes, the footing is unstable and hikers need to be good on their feet and be comfortable on rough or slippery ground.''
The woman's death was the third in the Mt Aspiring National Park this year.
On January 4, Wellington tramper Scott Oliver (42) drowned in the Wilkin River during a family tramping trip.
In a report released on Monday, coroner David Crerar said Mr Oliver, who was a fit but inexperienced tramper, appeared to have tripped on an obstruction, or been knocked off his feet by the strong, surging river.
His body was found 19 days later, after it had been carried down the river.
On April 25, Allison Lynn Willen, a 20-year-old American tourist, drowned after falling into the Young River while tramping on the Gillespie Pass in the Mt Aspiring National Park. - Additional reporting NZME.
