An earthquake measuring 4.1 has been detected offshore from Gosford on the NSW Central Coast.

Sodden NSW Central Coast residents will be relieved to know that no tsunami is expected following a 4.1 earthquake recorded offshore from Gosford.

The quake, recorded just after 10am on Tuesday, lasted less than a second, according to Geoscience Australia.

It was estimated to be at a depth of zero kilometres, and comes after days of torrential rain battered the coastline.

Marco Maldoni, a duty seismologist at Geoscience Australia, told Fairfax Media that the organisation had received up to 100 reports from people who felt the earthquake.

“There was no damage from an earthquake this size, but we received lots of reports,” he told Fairfax.

“Those people reported about 10 seconds worth of shaking, and a few reports of shaking trees and buildings shaking, and picture frames askew.”

Mr Maldoni said the last time a magnitude 4 earthquake was recorded in NSW was in 2012 in Tamworth.

“It is not unusual to have earthquakes in this part of the world. Looking at the past 50 years worth of data, there have been 42 earthquakes. It’s not unusual, and we may well have further aftershocks,” he said.

Meanwhile, another larger magnitude 5.6 earthquake has given residents in New Zealand’s lower South Island a jolt.

The strong, 30-kilometre deep quake struck 45 kilometres west of Te Anau just before 3pm on Tuesday, monitoring agency Geonet said.

Hundreds of residents reported feeling the quake, with some in Invercargill describing it as strong, and light shaking even reaching the Westland District.

– with Fairfax Media.