Bodies of Melbourne couple found after fall from New Zealand mountain.

Two Australian climbers have been killed after falling from a mountain in New Zealand’s Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

The bodies of Stuart Jason Hollaway, 42, and his partner Dale Amanda Thistlethwaite, 35, have been recovered from the upper slopes of Mt Silberhorn.

The couple, who were both from Melbourne, had been travelling and climbing in the country since early December 2015.

The last radio contact with the pair was made six days ago.

They fell from the top of the 3,300-metre-high mountain early on December 29, Mid South Canterbury Police Inspector Dave Gaskin said.

“Mr Hollaway was a highly respected and experienced mountain guide and Ms Thistlethwaite was also a very experienced climber,” Inspector Gaskin said in a statement.

Their bodies were found on New Year’s Day at the bottom of a steep face on the eastern slopes of the country’s seventh highest mountain.

It is understood they fell close to where they had been camping and were roped together.

A rescue team had to wait until the evening of January 1 to recover their bodies because of the risk of melting ice.

The families of the pair have been informed and their deaths will be referred to the coroner.

“We have lost two great friends.”

Melbourne University Mountaineering Club president Daniel Cocker said the couple were life members of the group “due to their incredible achievements and commitment to the club and its members”.

“We are mourning the loss of two very central members of our community,” he said in a statement.

“Today we have lost two great friends and mentors. Dale and Stu you will be sorely missed.”

Ms Thistlethwaite worked at the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office and had worked at Parks Victoria.

In a statement, Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings paid tribute to the pair.

“All Victorians are thinking of their families and loved ones at this difficult time,” he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing assistance to the families of the pair.

Mr Hollaway and Ms Thistlethwaite are the second and third Melburnians to die on a mountain in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park in under two weeks.

Nicola Anne Andrews, 28, died when she fell 300 metres from the side of The Footstool on to the Eugenie Glacier on December 23.

This post originally appeared on ABC News.