A missing 11-year-old girl from Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been found safe after spending two nights with an unknown man in his flat.

Michelle Levy stormed out of her home about 6.30pm on Saturday following an argument with her family, sparking an extensive search.

Police confirmed she was found in a unit in Mulwarree Avenue, Randwick, around 10.30am on Monday.

• Search for Bondi girl, 11

According to her father Adam Levy, Michelle spent the weekend with an older man.

“She hooked up with someone on Saturday night – I mean, not in the hook-up sense,” he said.

“It’s someone who came across her the first night and she’s been with them the whole time.

“I presume that he spoke to her and she didn’t want to (come home). We haven’t had a chance to speak to her in detail.

“I am not sure who the person is that came across her. The person contacted someone else and that person contacted us directly. We then informed the police.”

Mr Levy said he didn’t press his daughter for information and he had no idea who the man was but Michelle had seemed “chirpy” when they were reunited.

Michelle’s mother Anne said she was “crying with joy” when she heard the good news.

“I was thinking the worst things that could possibly happen,” she said.

She said the man had contacted Anglicare who then got in touch with her.

“Thank you (to the stranger) for coming forward … letting us be able to come and collect her,” she said.

“Thank you so much for looking after her.”

NSW Police Superintendent Jason Box described Michelle’s return as “an extremely positive result”.

“Detectives have just spoken to Michelle but all indications are that she is safe and well and in good condition,” Superintendent Box told media.

“We are still trying to determine how she arrived at that location … we will try and establish the reasons why Michelle left for such a long period of time.”

Up to 1000 volunteers searched into the early hours of Monday for the primary school student.

After her disappearance, Michelle’s parents told media their daughter was prone to wandering off after family disputes.

“If we fight, she storms off and sulks like a normal 11-year-old girl but she normally doesn’t go very far, only around the corner to her grandparents’ house,” Mr Levy said.

— with AAP