But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind."This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.

Conditions are intensifying across the south-east Queensland and northern NSW coast, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning Tropical Cyclone Alfred's slow track will bring a "very high risk of significant impacts".

A senior meteorologist said while the cyclone's movement slowed overnight, that could mean further destruction.