Eastern Australia's sopping wet summer has set the scene for an "explosion" of imported New Zealand produce.

The floodwaters that have isolated towns, forced thousands from their homes, and devastated crops and industry appear to have peaked.

Queensland residents are about to begin the monumental task of cleaning up their properties as floodwaters start to recede.

Queensland is losing up to $131m a day in coal exports over floods which have left 40 towns isolated or partly underwater.

Devastating flooding in Queensland has affected more than 200,000 people in a disaster zone bigger than New South Wales.

A nine-year-old Auckland boy survived going over a 20m waterfall in Queensland.

New Zealand will send a Civil Defence emergency response team to flood-ravaged Queensland.

Sunny, hot and calm weather is expected to last only until Wednesday.

Queensland is suffering a disaster "of biblical proportions" that will set back its economic recovery, state Treasurer Andrew Fraser says.

Rockhampton's airport is closing to commercial flights this afternoon as floodwaters take hold in the Queensland town.

Christchurch's Boxing Day aftershocks and the recent wet weather have seen more than 1000 claims lodged with the Earthquake Commission.

Homes are underwater in the city of Bundaberg and residents are fleeing Emerald as Queensland's flood crisis continues to take a heavy toll.

The southeast Queensland city is braced for its highest flood peak in 50 years, with 200 people already evacuating their homes.

Campers fled on foot in darkness at the Pelorus Bridge Camp today as a flood with enough power to lift caravans hit the idyllic holiday spot, 59km northwest of Blenheim.

Entire Queensland towns have been inundated and more could go under in a deluge that's swamped the state makes its way towards the sea.

Mass evacuations are under way across flooded Queensland with disasters declared in the inland towns of Theodore, Dalby and Chinchilla.