Shock and awe as massive swells hit South East Queensland

So often Queensland's tropical storms bring devastation and despair.

Not so much this time.

This time nature's shock and awe acted as a magnet, drawing hundreds of spectators to the coastline to witness a wet and wild spectacle.

On the Sunshine Coast, at Mooloolaba, the big rollers splatter themselves on the rocks; plumes of white foam soaring metres into the sky, showering the unwary as if caught in a sudden downpour.

A saturated American tourist giggled and laughed as she celebrated nature's impromptu performance. "I didn't see that coming!" she exclaimed.

"This is awesome, what a show!"

But there is danger too. We watch as lifesavers stab poles adorned with red flags into the sand. Beach closed.

It's like that up and down the South East Queensland coast at the moment.

The longer the massive swell continues the greater the threat of erosion too.

The ocean's mighty power is evident when you look out to sea and a boat appears and then completely disappears as it rides the peaks and troughs pumped towards land by ex-cyclone Linda.

The boardriders are loving it though.

At Alexandra Headland scores of people line the bluff mesmerised as surfers catch curling masses of roiling ocean that carry them hundreds of metres.

One old salt reckons, "five ten years ago I'd have joined the young ones out there".

"It's too dangerous for old blokes like me, that water it's got so much power," he said.

So like so many others today the old guy's a spectator.

They'd come to see a very real white water world.