It should have been a trip filled with happiness for couple Sovannmony Leang and Josephine Gibson.

But their travels to New Zealand have ended in tragedy.

The NSW pair were confirmed dead after the helicopter they were flying in crashed on to the Fox Glacier on the west coast of South Island on Saturday.

They are among seven, including four British tourists and the helicopter's pilot, who died in the crash.

Close family friend Stephanie Llano, who lives in New Zealand, got to know Mr Leang, 27, during summers she spent in Sydney with her family.

"I was really shocked when I found out. I saw my news feed was filled with pictures with him, people saying 'rest in peace' and I was like - that can't be true," she said.

"I can't really believe it, to be honest. It doesn't seem real."

Ms Llano said Mr Leang had been dating Ms Gibson, 29, for almost a year. The pair loved to travel and had gone to New York earlier in the year.

Ms Llano said Mr Leang was a friendly, big-brother figure who was happy to help anybody who needed it.

"He's the type of person you can trust or tell anything to, and he won't judge you," she said.

"We had a heart-to-heart talking about something that had happened. He gave me advice I'll never forget."

Three bodies have been recovered from the crash site, but poor weather conditions have hindered the efforts of recovery teams to retrieve the others.

West Coast Inspector John Canning said crews would take every opportunity between breaks in bad weather to assist.

"We've got to get those [bodies] back to their families if we can." he said. "Definitely the people will be coming before the aircraft."

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said members of her department had spoken to the families of the Australians on board.

"My sympathies are with the families of the crash victims at this very distressing time," Ms Bishop said.

"My department will remain in close contact with the New Zealand authorities as they respond to the crash and we will provide support to any affected families."

The scenic helicopter flight was operated by Alpine Adventures, which runs the Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Heliservices fleet.

Ms Llano said her return to Sydney later this year would be painful.

"I'm going back in two weeks and I was going to see him. It's so sad to think I might be there for his funeral," she said.

"He was a really, really, one-of-a-kind sort of person. It won't be the same without him."