Australian bushfire smoke crosses Tasman to blanket New Zealand

The devastating bushfires ravaging Australia have rolled across the Tasman, darkening skies on the east coast of New Zealand.

Australia's eastern neighbours awoke on 2020 to see skies tainted by a wave of smoke from the devastating blazes.

Residents posted photos to Twitter showing the discoloured views.

"Dunedin is on the east coast of New Zealand, and over 2000km from Sydney, yet today's eerie light is courtesy of smoke from Australia's catastrophic fires," wrote Vanda Symon.

Photos were posted from other locations including Christchurch.

Satellite images showed the cloud of smoke completely covering New Zealand's South Island.