A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of the New South Wales and Queensland coast following an earthquake in Chile.
The weather bureau says the coastline could be affected just north of Sydney up to Brisbane, but it is unlikely there will be any land inundation.
The tsunami is expected to reach Australia around 8:45am AEDT.
People in affected areas are being advised not to go down to the shore to see the waves come in.
Wayne Coutts from Queensland's Department of Emergency Services say the tsunami is likely to produce dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding in south-east Queensland from Point Danger to Double Island Point and Moreton Bay off Brisbane.
He says people should stay away from beaches until the threat has passed.
"Tomorrow morning we don't want people walking along the beach, even going down to the beach to have a look," he said.
"We don't want people swimming on the beach - that is the main threat we are concerned about.
"There is no need for evacuations, there is no plan for that it's certainly just for the marine environment."
It hit the Chathams an hr ago, the equipment there said the wave was 20 cm. It should have hit the Coromandel peninsula 8 30 nz time, I looked at Whangamata web cam and there were 2 sups out lol...ahem should take this more seriously!
TSUNAMIS struck French Polynesia overnight but there was no major damage or casualties, as traffic in areas close to the sea was suspended in an alert following the quake in Chile. Huge waves struck the Gambier archipelago at 6:30 am (local time), the high commissioner's office in Papeete said, as the tsunami raced across the Pacific.
The Marquesas islands, northeast of Polynesia, were hit between 7:00 and 8:00 am by a series of two-metre waves which damaged some boats but no one was hurt, officials said. A four-metre wave hit Hiva Oa in the Marquesas, officials said.
Schools across the region were closed, the port in Papeete was evacuated and thousands in Tahiti's hillside areas were transported from their homes to safer areas.
However many residents along the coast refused to leave, fearing lootings.
Between the waves the sea withdrew around 15 metres causing rip currents.
I went for a SUP on first light this morning with a very moody sky and quite bizarre wave movement.
For no apparent reason (other than my kookness) I got thrown by cross currents on several ocassions and the wave refraction and general ocean currents seemed very out of sorts.
It really did make me question what may have been happening at that very moment a log way a way and how it was effecting my session.
As a result, I got out and left it at that to then hear that all beaches in the Wollongong area are CLOSED as we draw to an expected 10am incident if any was likely to occur.
Here's some images I shot after my session from home.
I'd love to see film from up high like that when these tsunami's hit.. and I also hope the low islands in the Pacific are safe from them and no damage is done.
Bitterly disappointed coz I was revved up for my early morning surf. Turned up at Makorori at 10 am when was supposed to be all over but was still doing a slow surge from a very very low tide to almost high tide every 20 minutes or so. Too scary for me but a few surfers out at Chalet & Wainui Beach
Went down as well Lacey 8am, parked the car up high and mal'd greenie at a full on high tide. It was a little weird knowing that something might come and it didn't There were so many people on the headlands The Quikie pro sight was almost washed out as the tide rolled in.
but not before catching some stoked up waves....
There were so many people on the headlands 
