A woman killed when her bike was hit by a vehicle on State Highway 1 near Taupo yesterday was holidaying from Canada.

Sergeant David Frazer of Taupo police Kathryn Jane Barnett, 49, was on an organised bicycle tour travelling between Taupo and The Chateau in Tongariro National Park.

She was heading towards Turangi, about 4km from Waitahanui, when the accident happened shortly before 10am.

Mr Frazer said police believed Mrs Barnett was riding well to the left side of the road when she was hit from behind by a southbound vehicle.