Abbott and Obama turn gym buddies

Tony Abbott has a new gym buddy.

The Australian prime minister has revealed he shared a workout with US President Barack Obama on the sidelines of this week's special UN meeting in New York.

"We were gym buddies this morning," the prime minister laughed, after Nine network host Karl Stefanovic asked him about the encounter on Friday.

"He was on treadmill, I was on the bike, so I guess we both stuck to our strengths."

The Nine host told the prime minister: "It's like the beach volleyball scene from Top Gun, it conjures up all sorts of images."

"Haha," the prime minister replied.