Wellington, March 22 NZPA - About 200 trampers in Fiordland National Park braced themselves last night as strong gales, heavy rain and flooding damaged bridges, tracks and huts.

Department of Conservation (DOC) visitor asset manager Ross Kerr said gale force winds lashed the Kepler and Routeburn Tracks, while up to 150mm of rain caused flooding and slides on the Milford Track.

A DOC ranger on the Routeburn track was forced to escape to safety when debris crashed through the roof of the MacKenzie Hut, while walkers on the Milford and Kepler Tracks awoke to find the windows of their huts blown out.

All walkers on the tracks were thought to be safe, Mr Kerr said.

"No trampers have been reported as overdue, but as usual staff will be keeping an eye on intentions forms trampers have lodged with the department," he said.

"We had 150mm of rain overnight on the Milford Track and gale force winds elsewhere, so there's flooding, potentially landslides and lots of windfalls."

Trampers should stay off the tracks while DOC staff assessed the damage, Mr Kerr said.

Walkers who had booked to use the tracks today and tomorrow would be refunded.

DOC community relations ranger Helen Dodson said Milford Rd was closed today, which had made it difficult for rangers to access some parts of the park.

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