National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill

What National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill does

The National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill is a 135-hectare charitable trust-operated arboretum located 35km northwest of Gisborne, New Zealand, serving as the country's only nationally designated arboretum. Established in 1910 by William Douglas Cook and placed under the Eastwoodhill Trust Board by Act of Parliament in 1975, the institution maintains over 25,000 living specimens of trees, shrubs, and climbers from 81 countries — functioning as a biosecure 'Arboreal Ark' for threatened temperate forest species. Its core technology is an ArcGIS-based interactive map documenting specimen locations across themed gardens, and its long-horizon planning is anchored by a 100-year masterplan developed with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects.

The business operates as a self-sufficient charity receiving no government funding, generating revenue from seven interconnected streams: day-visit admission fees (NZ$4–$18), on-site accommodation (NZ$45–$185 per night), venue hire (Library, Pavilion, Courtyard, commercial kitchen), guided tours (NZ$40 per person), education programs for school groups (NZ$4–$60), annual memberships (NZ$55–$100), and donations/bequests through the Give-a-Little platform. It serves a diversified customer base including general public visitors, school groups, wedding and corporate clients, the 750-member Friends of Eastwoodhill association, cycle tourists via regional partnerships, and cruise ship groups via Gisborne port. Distribution is hybrid: direct through the on-site Visitor Centre and SpaceToco online booking platform, supplemented by regional reseller partnerships with Gisborne Cycle and Motu Trails.

Name

National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill

Legal name

National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill

Website

https://eastwoodhill.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eastwoodhill is a charitable trust operating New Zealand's only National Arboretum — a 135-hectare living collection of 25,000+ tree specimens from 81 countries — delivering conservation, education, tourism, accommodation, and event services to visitors, schools, and event clients as a self-funded charity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden and Arboretum Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens (Educational Collections) (THAJADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nature Lodges & Eco-Resorts (THAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Botanical garden services
• Tree conservation
• Educational tourism tours
• Venue hire weddings
• Accommodation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gisborne

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Entry Fees: Per-visit admission fees for individuals and groups ranging from $4 for education groups to $18 for adults. Annual passes available at $55 single and $100 double.
2. Accommodation Services: On-site accommodation including studio rooms ($185/night), twin rooms ($135/night), bunk beds (from $45/night), and RV/camper sites ($10). Revenue includes entry fees except for self-contained vehicles.
3. Venue Hire: Event venue rental including Douglas Cook Library (60-70 seated/100 standing), Pavilion (30 capacity), Courtyard (160 capacity), and commercial kitchen. Catering partnerships for functions and weddings.
4. Education Programs: School group programs at $4/child, guided tours at $40/person, nature scavenger hunts, orienteering challenges, and tailored educational activities at $60/hour
5. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership providing unlimited access to the collection, member discounts (10% in gift shop), priority booking, and invitations to exclusive events. Supporting conservation and development projects.
6. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations through Give-a-Little platform, bequest programs, and specific project funding. Heavy reliance on public support as no government funding is received.
7. Events and Catering: Special events including Christmas in the Trees, Teddy Bears Picnic, live music concerts, and cruise ship group hosting. Friends of Eastwoodhill provide catering services for fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eastwoodhill operates a 135-hectare national arboretum maintaining over 25,000 tree, shrub, and climber specimens from 81 countries, offering public day admission, on-site accommodation, guided botanical tours, and education programs. It also functions as an event venue for weddings, conferences, and corporate functions, and as a conservation institution executing a 100-year masterplan for global tree species protection.

Product overview

Eastwoodhill Arboretum, The National Arboretum of New Zealand, operates as a botanical conservation and visitor destination offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. Core offerings include day admission to the 135-hectare arboretum featuring over 25,000 species of trees across themed gardens; accommodation services (Studio, Twin, Bunk rooms, RV/Camper sites); guided botanical tours; venue hire for events and weddings; and educational programs for school groups. The organization generates revenue through memberships (Friends of Eastwoodhill), donations and bequests, venue rentals, accommodation bookings, and event hosting. Walking tracks spanning 25km serve visitors year-round, with the collection documented via an interactive map. The arboretum relies heavily on volunteer support and public donations given the absence of government funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arboretum Admission

Quantifiable outcome

• No government funding required - self-sufficient charity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, secondary and minor.

• NZ ArbflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019MOU signed with NZ Arb (New Zealand Arboriculture Association) to strengthen professional connections and knowledge sharing in arboriculture sector.
• National Arboretum CanberraflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019MOU signed between Eastwoodhill and National Arboretum Canberra establishing formal partnership between the two national arboreta. Represents mutual recognition and collaboration between Australia's and New Zealand's premier arboretum institutions.
• Te Whanau a Kai (local Iwi)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Maori iwi whose traditional lands include the Eastwoodhill area. Partnership focused on cultural storytelling, recognition of historical significance, and developing cultural advisory group. Chairman Dave Hawea has expressed appreciation for the arboretum's establishment and maintenance on these lands.
• Tairāwhiti MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership programme where museum educators facilitate educational activities for primary and intermediate students at the arboretum. Bookings made directly through the museum, expanding educational offerings beyond what the arboretum staff can provide alone.
• Gisborne CyclesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal cycle tour operator offering 1-4 day cycling tours to Eastwoodhill and the surrounding Gisborne region. Arranges all logistics including accommodation bookings at the arboretum, promoting overnight stays and extended visits.
• Motu TrailssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional cycling trail organization whose routes pass by Eastwoodhill Arboretum. Trails promoted as part of the Motu Trails network, directing cyclists to visit the arboretum as a destination.
• Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects (NBW)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA-based international landscape architecture firm engaged to develop the 100-year masterplan for Eastwoodhill's development. Principal Architect Thomas Woltz and Project Manager Breck Gastinger led the two-year assessment and planning process.
• Cruise Ship OperatorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with cruise lines visiting Gisborne port to offer arboretum excursions as part of shore excursions. Hosted 19 cruise ships in 2024/25 summer season before weather cancellations affected operations.
• Gisborne Hydroseeding LtdminorOthersLocal contractor engaged for specialized turf restoration work on homestead lawn, mixing custom turf concoction for event space restoration.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pukeiti (Taranaki): New Zealand's other major public arboretum located in Taranaki, sharing a similar visitor-facing arboretum model in NZ with comparable conservation, education, and venue hire offerings. Most directly comparable domestic peer given shared geography and audience.
• National Arboretum Canberra: Australia's National Arboretum located in Canberra, comparable to Eastwoodhill as a designated national arboretum with a national-scale conservation mandate, formal MOU partner, and visitor education programming. Operates on a similar model combining collections, events, and venue hire but with much larger government backing.
• Morton Arboretum: US-based arboretum in Illinois focused on tree science, conservation, and education with a similarly broad species collection and outdoor visitor programming. Comparable in mission to conserve tree diversity and serve as a research and education destination.
• Auckland Botanic Gardens: Large NZ botanical garden operated by Auckland Council with comparable plant collections, education programs, weddings, and visitor services. Overlaps strongly with Eastwoodhill in product offering but serves a much larger urban audience with government funding.
• Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University: Historic US arboretum affiliated with Harvard focused on research, conservation, and public access to woody plant collections. Closely comparable as a research-active arboretum with a deep specimen collection serving both scientific and visitor audiences.

Broad incumbents

• New York Botanical Garden: Large US botanical institution with extensive living collections, research programs, and visitor experiences. Overlaps with Eastwoodhill in arboretum-style collections, education programming, weddings, and venue hire, but at vastly greater scale and with substantial government and donor support.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Global leader in botanical conservation, research, and public gardens. Operates on a much larger scale with global scientific reach but shares Eastwoodhill's core mission of ex-situ plant conservation, education, and public access.
• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: Australia's major public botanical garden offering plant collections, conservation research, education, and visitor experiences. Comparable mission and visitor offerings but operates at much larger scale with state government support.

Regional players

• Zealandia (Karori Sanctuary): NZ native wildlife sanctuary in Wellington with comparable conservation mission, fenced eco-sanctuary model, education programs, and membership-driven revenue. Overlaps in conservation-driven visitor attraction, though focused on fauna rather than trees.
• Hamilton Gardens (Waikato): NZ Waikato-based themed garden destination with comparable visitor-facing offerings (wedding venues, education, gardens, venue hire) but more focused on themed cultural gardens than tree conservation. Serves a regional NZ audience with comparable product mix.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eastwoodhill
• Instagraminstagram.com/eastwoodhill
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastwoodhill-arboretum-the-national-arboretum-of-new-zealand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill