Natalie Joy Anderson (42), of Alexandra, died in the motorbike accident on State Highway 6 alongside Lake Hawea, about noon on Saturday, police said.
She was the pillion passenger on a Yamaha motorbike being ridden by her husband, Murray Anderson, who was injured in the crash.
The couple were taking part in the annual Donald Anderson memorial rally, held for the past 14 years by the Chatto Creek Motorcycle Club. The Andersons were among a group of 20 motorcyclists travelling in convoy to Bruce Bay on the West Coast.
The crash, in which no other vehicles were involved, occurred on a twisting section of SH6, about 15km north of the Lake Hawea township and approaching a location known as the Neck between Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka.
Police Serious Crash Unit (SCU) investigator Senior Constable Alastair Crosland, of Alexandra, said it appeared the couple's motorbike had left the road and run into gravel.
The bike had slipped out from underneath the riders, into a bank, and then back on to the road for about 10m, he said.
"I would be surprised if [excess] speed is involved," he said, after a preliminary inspection of the accident site on Saturday.
A full determination of the cause of the crash would not be completed until all the factors had been considered, Snr Const Crosland said.
Chatto Creek Motorcycle Club member Tony South told the Otago Daily Times at the crash scene that he was at the rear of the group, following the motorbikes with a support car, trailer and breakdown service team.
The Andersons were riding towards the rear of the rally, which was spaced out in single bike intervals, he said.
Emergency services from Lake Hawea, Makarora and Wanaka attended the incident, which closed SH6 for about two hours.
Mr Anderson was taken by ambulance to Dunstan Hospital for further treatment to his injuries.
He was later discharged.
Family members spoken to by the Otago Daily Times yesterday described Mrs Anderson as a bright, bubbly person who was friendly to all.
Murray Anderson, who suffered only minor injuries, said his wife was the pillar of their family.
"She was our rock. She was there to support all of us," he said.
The couple, who had been married for 20 years, have a son and a daughter, both teenagers.
As prominent community members they were involved in the Jaycees and Alexandra Scouts.
Mrs Anderson worked in Alexandra for Commercial and Rural Insurance Brokers.
She was born and raised in South Otago before moving to Alexandra in 1989 following her marriage.
The rally was in memory of Mr Anderson's brother, Donald, who, along with their father, Graham, was killed in a plane crash in October 1995.
