A 60-year-old Auckland woman with serious injuries has been flown to Hawke's Bay Hospital after a distress beacon was activated in the southern Urewera National Park at around 11am today.

Hawkes Bay's Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter

A tramping party of three was traversing a washout on the track when the woman slipped and fell about 40 metres down a steep shale slope, sustaining injuries to her head, neck, chest and ankles.

The location proved too dangerous for the remainder of the tramping party to reach the woman and they activated their Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

The Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter was directed to the scene, around 27km south west of the southern edge of Lake Waikaremoana by the rescue coordination centre New Zealand.

A paramedic was winched to the scene to provide treatment before the flight to Hawke's Bay Hospital.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Dave Wilson says the operation highlights the importance of carrying a personal locator beacon when travelling to remote areas.

'This is a very isolated part of the country, with no cellphone coverage. Without a PLB, it would have taken a considerable amount of time for the party to raise the alarm,” says Dave.