Moderate and shallow earthquakes near Milford Sound have rattled parts of the South.

A 5.5-magnitue tremor was recorded at 6.13pm on Wednesday, 5km deep and its epicentre was 40km north-east of Milford Sound in Southland, GeoNet said.

It was followed by a 5.7 quake at 6.57pm, also at a depth of 5km, and 35km north-east of Milford Sound.

An ODT reporter in Queenstown said there was “significant shaking” from both quakes.

The tremors were also felt in Dunedin. 

Nearly 7000 people had reported the 6.13pm tremor to GeoNet, and just over 6000  had reported the later quake.

- Allied Media