An Australian who fell to his death while hiking with his partner in New Zealand's Mount Aspiring National Park was loved for his sense of humour and approach to life.

The family of Karl Walter Quaass says they are "shocked" over Saturday's tragedy but have taken time out to remember the 30-year-old and thank the people involved in the retrieval operation.

A keen hiker and amateur photographer, Mr Quaass was born in Adelaide and obtained a masters degree in applied linguistics.

He travelled extensively and spent time teaching English in South Korea and Taiwan before moving to New Zealand's South Island to work at the University of Otago.

"His many friends in Adelaide, New Zealand and other parts of the world loved his sense of humour and his good-natured approach to life," a statement from Mr Quaass's family read.

Mr Quaass had been hiking with a group of young friends, including his partner Heidi, across a known but unmarked route in the sprawling southern park when he fell 30 to 40 metres down a bluff about 7pm (5pm AEDT) on Saturday.

The family statement said the team were experienced trampers who were skilled at dealing with emergencies, and he joined them to learn more about the New Zealand terrain.

"After his accident several members of the party hiked out to seek help, while his partner Heidi stayed with him," the statement read.

"We have found great solace in the fact she and other members of the group were able to provide this support under such difficult circumstances."

Police said the terrain in that section of the park was difficult, with steep tussock and scrubby slopes.

Members of the group climbed down to help him but he had suffered significant head injuries and was unable to be revived despite friends applying CPR for 30 minutes.

Wanaka police search-and-rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said the group had been devastated by Mr Quaass's death.

"The partner being there, that would have been the last thing she anticipated and having to deal with that, as you can imagine it is a tragedy," Sgt Nicholson said.

Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club vice-president Greg Powell told the Southland Times newspaper it appeared the group had done the right thing by training on tough terrain en masse.

"Generally I guess at some stage as you develop your tramping skills, you've got to do that some way and the safest way you can do that is to do it gradually and with experienced people," Mr Powell said.

"It sounds like they've done the right thing, they've been with experienced people and I guess at the end of the day I could walk out of my building here and get hit by a bus."

In their statement, the family thanked New Zealand rescue authorities and asked that media allow them to grieve privately.

The death has been reported to the New Zealand coroner.

AAP