Dan HaynesA woman whose life was full of adventure has been tragically killed while on a cycle tour of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.Dan Haynes

A woman whose life was full of adventure has been tragically killed while on a cycle tour of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.

Vivienne Tremain, from Beccles, had cycled more than 6,000 miles on the tour with her partner Jesse Orchard when they were hit from behind by a car near Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, Australia.

Mrs Tremain, 66, was killed instantly but Mr Orchard escaped with minor head injuries.

Arthur Pulford, one of Mrs Tremain's neighbours in Grove Road, said the neighbourhood was taking the news badly.

"Vivienne was such a vibrant person and the news of her death has devastated all her family, friends and neighbours," he said. "It's absolutely tragic."

The accident happened on April 6 10km outside of Lockhart where they had been camping the previous night.

The couple were into the eighth month of the cycling tour, and had already tackled New Zealand and Tasmania. They were on their way up to Brisbane from where they were to fly home in June.

Mr Orchard is now out of hospital and in the care of the Salvation Army in Wagga Wagga.

The 25-year-old male driver of the car that collided with the couple was also taken to hospital where he was treated for shock.

Mrs Tremain was a keen cyclist and a member of Diss Cycling Club. She had met Mr Orchard while on a cycling holiday in New Zealand about two years ago.

Mrs Tremain's brother Colin Cooke said that she had lived a life full of adventure. She had lived in Kenya, and sailed the Mediterranean and then the world with her late husband Roy.

Mr Cooke said: "She was an adventurer and she thoroughly enjoyed life. She'd done skydiving, she went white water rafting. She's done everything. After her husband died she had to change her life, but she took up cycling to keep the sense of freedom."

Colin, together with his brother Clive Cooke, added: "We miss Vivienne terribly but are comforted by the thought that she had a multitude of friends worldwide and a very full and adventurous life."