Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle has downed trees and power lines and thrown boulders onto the pier, but Norfolk Island has dodged the worst of the winds as the system moves towards New Zealand.
The now ex-cyclone passed the island as a category two system at about midnight local time but has now been downgraded to a sub-tropical low-pressure system.
Resident Hannah Taylor said there was a "chorus of chainsaws" on the island on Sunday as residents cleared debris and fallen trees.
"We're feeling very fortunate as a community that we didn't cop the full brunt of what Gabrielle had to offer. If she had moved a few a little bit south, we would have seen a lot more damage.
"People talk about a cyclone angel and our continued good luck with the cyclones."
Crews had worked to keep the power on even as the cyclone's winds blew around them, she said.
"I just can't believe the efforts that the electricity crew went to here to keep the power on in so many parts of the island," Ms Taylor said.
"To watch the news out of Turkey and Syria from the comfort of our own home in the middle of a cyclone was super surreal."
The island's famous green sea turtle Doris had already been spotted since the winds passed over, and fallen seabirds were being cared for, she said.
Norfolk Island's emergency controller George Plant said said there had been 40 calls for help, but "our initial assessment suggests that the damage had been manageable".
"We were extremely fortunate that the bands of destructive winds went either side of us so whilst we had a period of high winds there it didn't reach the high levels that were initially expected," he said.
Alex McGillycuddy, who was bunkered down with his wife and four children through the night, said waves had thrown boulders onto Cascade Pier, which he said took the brunt of the winds.
"Locals are now cleaning up, helping each other out. The electricity guys are working around the clock to get power back to the whole island," he said.
"The biggest damage was at Cascade Pier, four-foot rocks thrown out of the water onto the pier [which] damaged the ground and railings."
Resident Kate Lemerle said the winds came through with a sound like a "freight train", and it had been a tense few days as locals waited for it to pass.
"We are all tired as well because we haven't had much sleep for the last two days. You are kind of hyper alert all the time."
She said the island had been "very lucky".
"I think it’s been a good wake-up call for the community to realise we need to think more seriously about preparation, both in terms of what we expect but also being prepared to support the community when these predictable events happen."
Resident Malcolm Dowling is busy clearing up after a "wild night".
In a post to social media, he wrote: "Daylight here on Norfolk Island and Cyclone Gabby has certainly left her mark. Plenty of trees down."
