A 17-year-old boy has died after falling from a water skiing boat just north of Newcastle on Friday.

The teenager fell from a boat just before 7pm at Williams River, about 500 metres from Fitzgerald Bay, police say.

His body was taken from the water by emergency services but the boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

The man driving the boat, a 34-year-old, was not injured and taken to hospital where he was to be subject to drug and urine tests.

A man who was behind the boat and skiing was uninjured.

Police say the boat will be forensically examined.

A report will be prepared for the coroner and police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.