Australia Weather News

A bull shark has been found a long way from home in north Queensland as residents emerged to begin the clean-up after Cyclone Debbie.

Pictures showing the bull shark near Ayr were tweeted by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, with a warning about wading into waters after a flood.

"Think it's safe to go back in the water? Think again!" the tweet read.

Emergency services crews found the shark while doing checks of flooded roads around Ayr.

Bull sharks are known to live in the nearby Burdekin River.

At the other end of the state, a man and four children were trapped inside a house at Sarabah, inland from the Gold Coast.

Floodwaters later receded, allowing the family to leave safely.

Areas around the Gold Coast hinterland have been hit by torrential rain, while communities in northern New South Wales have been ordered to evacuate ahead of expected flood peaks on Friday morning.