Two climbers from Australia have died in a climbing accident on a mountain range in New Zealand.

Key points: The men fell during a climb in The Remarkables mountain range

The men fell during a climb in The Remarkables mountain range Rescuers have recovered the men's bodies

Rescuers have recovered the men's bodies A guide who was with the men was unhurt

Brett Alexander Lentfer, 62, and James Harry Spaile, 44, fell from a cliff in The Remarkables mountain range near Queenstown on Wednesday morning.

Mr Lentfer lived in Canberra. New Zealand police did not give any more information about Mr Spaile, other than to say he was an Australian.

Police said they recovered the body of one of the men Wednesday and recovered the body of the second Thursday morning.

"Our condolences are with the family and friends of both men," police said in a statement.

A rescuer quoted by New Zealand news site stuff.co.nz said the men fell 300 metres after their rope was cut on a sharp rock.

The men were reportedly climbing on the traverse of Single Cone and Double Cone in The Remarkables, a day-long mountaineering route at heights of over 2,000 metres, in the company of a guide from Aspiring Guides.

"Aspiring Guides is deeply saddened to confirm that two clients have died following a tragic climbing accident in the Remarkables," the company said in a statement on its Facebook page.

"We are devastated and our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives.

Aspiring Guides is conducting an internal review and working closely with police.

Brett Lentfer was described as enthusiastic and 'a dreamer'. ( Supplied )

In a statement, Mr Lentfer's family said: "We would like to thank the New Zealand Police, the recovery team and all those in New Zealand and Australia who have provided assistance."

"It is with great sadness that we farewell Brett — a beloved husband, father and brother. We ask the media to please respect our privacy at this difficult time."

A friend of Mr Lentfer and fellow Canberra mountaineer, Armando Corvini, said "once again it is a dangerous sport, but we know it all inside out, and we try to be prepared as much as we can with gear, to be trained and to understand."

"He was enthusiastic, he was very enthusiastic, and he was always planning to do something else … we're always planning, we're dreamers in many ways, always wanting to do something else, exploring new places and new countries."

"Mountaineering, if you pick up any book on mountaineering, there is always quite a lot tragedy in it: people with frostbite, people die, people are buried by avalanches — but it doesn't stop you.

"Our thanks to Emergency Services and the Wanaka and Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue team for their quick response and assistance.

"We have also been humbled by the many messages of support from the NZ Mountain and Guiding Community."

During a press conference in Queenstown, Inspector Olaf Jensen, the Otago Lakes Central Area Commander, said: "The thoughts of the NZ police and the wider Queenstown community are with the families of James and Brett who tragically lost their lives while climbing in the Remarkables mountain range on Wednesday.

The two men were in the company of a professional guide when they fell to their deaths. ( Supplied: Nick Bramhall, Flickr )

"James was able to be recovered yesterday afternoon but because of the dangerous conditions on site … the recovery of Brett was not made until today."

Chris Prudden was a part of the mountain rescue team and said this was an unusual incident.

"[It was a] really unfortunate incident, very unusual for NZ mountains, particularly when you've got a highly trained professional involved," he said.

"Just goes to show you can get the bad hand on any day."

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to the families of the two Australian men.

The deaths will be referred to the coroner.