WHEN the Townsend family's house flooded the only thing left to do was barbecue.

The Murwillumbah family were keeping a smile on their face and a snag on the barbie even with their Tweed Valley Way home over 1m underwater on Monday.

Travis Townsend was wading through chest deep water to get through the garage as his mother Sharon cooked sausages on the barbecue on the second level of the home.

The house that was once on the riverfront was surrounded by a moat of fast flowing water this week.

Mrs Townsend said the floods had certainly been an interesting experience.

"We can't even charge our phones, that's why we're having a sausage sizzle for lunch," she said.

"We've got waterfront all around. But the neighbours have been great.

"We had a couple of gas bottles floating around and the neighbour went out with his kayak and came and towed them in."

Mrs Townsend said living on the river was worth it, even with the occasional hitch.

"Three hundred and 60 days of the year it's wonderful, the rest of the time we put up with it," she said.

Mr Townsend had prepared for the floods late into the previous night, saving possessions that were located on the first level of the house.

He said that despite its waterlogged shortcomings he loved living on the river.

His sister Naiomi Townsend said the family had been ready for the inevitable flooding

"We've only been here 12 months, but it was like this on Australia Day last year," she said.

The family will likely escape a complete soaking as the second level of their house appeared safe for the time being.