Vandals have struck at the Kepler Track carpark on the outskirts of Te Anau overnight (18 Mar), smashing dozens of wiper arms and causing potentially thousands of dollars of damage to parked cars and campervans.

Up to 20,000 trampers hike the 3-day Kepler Track - a Great Walk - annually, and many leave their vehicles in the designated Department of Conservation carpark.

Wiper arms were snapped off parked cars at the Kepler Track carpark. Photo: Southland App

British tourist Sammy Beattie, whose rental vehicle was targeted, was dumbfounded as to why anyone would have done it.

This was the first time anything like this had happened to her during her four-month stay, she said.

She had heard stories about the mischievous habits of Kea before coming to Fiordland.

"I thought it was the birds," she said, before realising the extent of the damage.

Police said they were in the very early stages of their inquiry.

They advised anyone who had suffered similar damage to contact Police online via the Update Report form, using reference number 250319/7271

More damage. Photo: Southland App