The tremor hit 80km east of Forster, Geoscience Australia said.

Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Dr David Jepsen told AAP that Friday's quake was minor, but felt as far away as Newcastle and north of Forster.

Guests of Seal Rocks' Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse were shaken by the event.

One of the management team, Carolyn Richards, who was caretaking, was woken from sleep by the movement and at first thought there had been an explosion.

"Guests were safe in the sturdy 1875 heritage cottages," she said.

"However the timber windows and doors rattled violently. Guests said they thought it was a huge gust of wind, others an explosion. "

Mojo, who was holidaying in Hawks Nest told the Newcastle Herald online that he thought a truck had hit the house.

"Staying in a two storey house at Hawks Nest and woke to two loud bangs and the bed and windows shaking. Thought someone had driven into the side of the house."

Christine who also left a comment on The Herald's website on Friday, said it "jolted me out of my sleep just before 3.30am but I didn't realise what it was until I heard it on the radio this morning....".

Candice Neat, a resident of Hawks Nest, told the Seven Network's Sunrise program that she also was woken up by the quake.

"We were rocking in our beds and the windows were shaking," she said.

"It was a bit scary, we didn't know what was happening."

Seismologists are not too concerned about the quake - no damage has been reported and no-one was injured - but it is the second quake to hit the North Coast region in just under a year.

On Saturday August 9, 2009 Forster's Lyn Jordan was taking a nap just before midday when an earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale hit 50km offshore.

"I was at home in my [South St] bedroom when it happened, and I thought 'what's going on?'," she said.

"I didn't know what it was. The mirrors and windows were shaking, but it was quite gentle. I walked out and my parents said they felt it too."