IT only took 15 seconds for a mini-tornado to cause thousands of dollars' damage to the Bonny Hills Caravan Park on Monday night.

The frightening gust of wind had 50-year-old Grant Kennerwell cowering on his caravan floor as glass and debris smashed around him.

Moments later, the Macksville resident was out in the pouring rain with a torch, searching for bodies in a wasteland of twisted metal and broken belongings.

"I was terrified I would find someone in one of the caravans," the Bonny Hills Caravan Park site owner said.

"The noise was like a freight train and even though it only lasted a few seconds it felt like ages."

About 10.15pm on Monday, Port Macquarie police were called to the caravan park, 25 minutes' drive south of Port Macquarie, after a report of a mini tornado.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the freak event. But two caravans were destroyed.

Park manager Judy Hancock said there were about 30 people in the park at the time of the storm, but only Mr Kennerwell was in the path of the strong gust of wind.

Other residents slept right through the incident, including some nearby campers.

Newcastle couple John and Helen Sager had just spent almost $10,000 renovating their van in the Bonny Hills park.

While the couple are insured for $25,000, they do not think that will come close to covering the cost of the damage.

"Our van is totally destroyed," said an upset Mrs Sager.

"We've been coming here on holiday for 14 years and never seen anything like this."

The Sagers' van weighed more than 3000kg and was about 8.5m long.

It was turned on its side and the roof of the van ended up in a backyard about 500m up the road from the park.

"We drove up from Newcastle about 2.30am after we received the call from the police to see what we could salvage," the 46-year-old mother said.

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