A 24-year-old Melbourne student on exchange in Norway has died after falling 300 metres at Trolltunga cliff, a popular tourist spot near Bergen.

Kristi Kafcaloudis was walking in the mountains of Hordaland County in the country’s west when she fell on Saturday.

Trolltunga, which means “Troll’s Tongue” in English, is described as “one of the most spectacular scenic cliffs in Norway” by the country’s official tourism information site.

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The hike to and from the cliff takes about 8-10 hours, and goes through high mountains.

Norwegian police said on Twitter that Ms Kafcaloudis was with a group of 30 people at the time of the accident.

There is no mobile phone coverage along the route.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is providing consular assistance to her family.

Ms Kafcaloudis, an arts and science student at Monash University and originally from Yandina in Queensland, was on exchange at the University of Bergen.

‘Beautiful soul’ lost from our lives: family

In a statement Ms Kafcaloudis’ mother, Milli Kafcaloudis, mourned the loss of the “beautiful soul from our lives” with the death of their “much-loved” daughter.

“We are only consoled by the fact that Kristi was doing what she loved with her friends and living a life full of adventure and dreams,” she said in a statement.

“But we are mortified by the loss of such a talented and lovely young woman with her whole life before her.”

Ms Kafcaloudis expressed concern for the woman’s friends who were with her at the time who “no doubt share our sense of disbelief at such a sudden and traumatic loss”.

She thanked the Red Cross rescue teams and police for their efforts to retrieve her daughter from difficult terrain.

“She was quite simply exceptional to us and to her many friends and will remain in our hearts and minds to encourage us to make the best of our lives and reach out to others,” she said.

Monash University extended their “deepest sympathies” to Ms Kafcaloudis’ family.

“The Monash University community is deeply saddened at this news and Monash is liaising with the family, and officials here in Australia and in Norway, to provide support,” the university said in a statement.

“Our deepest sympathies are extended to her family, her colleagues and friends during this tragic time.”

The rector at University of Bergen, Dag Rune Olsen, said in a statement the university was saddened by the accident.

“It is with great sadness that we learn that one of our international students has died,” Mr Olsen said.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the student.

“Rector and university management were informed by the police of the tragic accident at Trolltunga in Odda, Western Norway, on Sunday morning 6 September, that Australian exchange student Kristi Kafcaloudis had died after a fall.”