DOC ranger Tim Bacon was gutted to find the trees were chopped down.

A scenic campsite in Marlborough was seemingly not scenic enough as some campers have chopped down trees to improve the view.

Rangers planted the trees about a decade ago as a windbreak at the popular Robin Hood Bay campsite on Marlborough's east coast, north of Blenheim.

Department of Conservation community ranger Chris Wootton said the team was gutted to find the trees cut to stumps at two spots this week, apparently for a sea view.

"We take great care of this campsite on behalf of the public and our rangers are upset that people have cut the trees, seemingly for their own self-interest," Wootton said.

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"The trees are actually there to serve the campers. If you camp there in a mean southerly, it can be quite harsh. It's a windy spot."

DOC Vandals cut hole in hedge "seemingly for their own self-interest" to look out over Robin Hood Bay.

Rangers made inquiries with campers in the area but the culprits appeared to have moved on, Wootton said.

He urged anyone with information to contact the south Marlborough DOC office.

Marlborough conservation workers had 59 campsites and more than 60 backcountry huts to maintain.

SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF Conservation workers planted the trees to shield the campground from the "mean" southerly wind.

Wootton said dealing with vandalism was unfortunately part of the job for rangers.

"Vandalism or damage does happen from time to time. Just now I had a call about another incident, some graffiti on the rocks at [nearby] Monkey Bay."

Other regional DOC offices also struggled with vandals and thieves, people illegally lighting fires and dumping rubbish at DOC campgrounds.

DOC Someone has chopped down trees planted as a windbreak at Robin Hood Bay campground in Marlborough.

The Mangatutu hot pools campsite at the Kaweka Forest Park, in Hawke's Bay, was repeatedly vandalised last year, with a donation box ripped off a wall, a fire lit on the steps beside the hot pools, and rubbish left behind including disposable nappies.

A historic tramping hut in Tararua, Wairarapa, was vandalised using paint left behind by volunteer maintenance workers in 2015.

DOC gave up trying to maintain its hut at popular surf spot Ngapotiki Lodge in Wairarapa, and removed the building altogether in 2012 after doors were smashed and windows broken.

SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF Campers at Robin Hood Bay campground have been questioned about the missing trees.

And the Lee Valley swimming hole near Brightwater, south of Nelson, was strewn with broken beer bottles and toiletry rubbish in 2009, in a series of attacks on the area.

Last year someone stole a cast-iron pot belly stove from the remote DOC-owned Barbers Hut, west of Blenheim.

Marlborough rangers appealed for help from the public to catch the thief, unsuccessfully.

SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF Robin Hood Bay, north of Blenheim, is one of Marlborough's busiest campgrounds in January. (File photo)

But some generous members of the public had donated two pot belly stoves to replace the stolen one, Wootton said.

"There was a really good public response to that, out of some negative stuff came some really good stuff."

People who damaged DOC campgrounds or did not follow the rules could be prosecuted under the Conservation Act or in the criminal court, which could mean a criminal conviction, a fine or a penalty such as community work.

Rangers could also hand out instant $200 fines under the Freedom Camping Act.