eastwoodhill

What eastwoodhill does

Eastwoodhill Arboretum, legally known as the National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill, operates a 135-hectare botanical collection of over 25,000 specimens of exotic and native trees, shrubs, and climbers sourced from 67 countries, located in Ngatapa, Gisborne. Founded in 1910 by William Douglas Cook and placed under statutory trust governance via the Eastwoodhill Trust Board Act 1975, the arboretum functions as an "arboreal ark" — a biosecure sanctuary for threatened northern hemisphere species unavailable elsewhere in New Zealand due to the country's stringent biosecurity environment. Core operations span visitor access (25 km of color-coded walking trails, guided vehicle and walking tours), on-site accommodation (Studio, Twin, Bunk, and NZMCA RV park), event and venue hire (Courtyard, Pavilion, Douglas Cook Library, commercial kitchen), weddings, education programs, and a gift shop, all routed through a central Visitor Centre and online booking via the Spacetoco platform.

The business model is that of a self-sufficient charitable trust receiving no central or local government funding. Revenue is generated across eight principal streams: visitor admissions (Adults $18, Seniors $15, Children $5, Family $45), annual memberships (Single $55, Double $100) with 750+ active members, accommodation ($10-$185/night depending on unit type), venue and facility hire, guided tours ($40/person), education programs ($4/student plus activity fees), retail sales through the on-site gift shop, and donations/bequests including specific, residuary, and pecuniary options. The customer base is hybrid, spanning nature enthusiasts, school education groups, members/supporters, event and wedding clients, conservation researchers, and tourism partners (cycle tour operators, Motu Trails, cruise lines — 19 cruise ships hosted in one summer season). Marketing is multi-channel across website, email newsletter, Facebook, Instagram, community events, the Friends of Eastwoodhill volunteer network, and tourism trade partnerships. Strategic planning is guided by a 100-year Masterplan developed with Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects and reinforced by MOUs with National Arboretum Canberra (2019) and the New Zealand Arboretum Association (2019), alongside a 2025 education partnership with Tairāwhiti Museum.

Name

eastwoodhill

Legal name

National Arboretum of New Zealand, Eastwoodhill

Website

https://eastwoodhill.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1910

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Eastwoodhill Arboretum operates New Zealand's National Arboretum, a 135-hectare botanical collection of 25,000+ specimens in Gisborne, offering visitor access, accommodation, venue hire, education programs, and conservation research as a self-funded charitable trust.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Garden / Arboretum

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 industries

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH), National Park & Conservancy Lodges (THAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Botanical garden
• Arboretum conservation
• Nature tourism
• Tree preservation
• Garden venue hire

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

Revenue model

1. Visitor Admissions: Entry fees from individual and group visitors. Adults $18, Seniors $15, Children $5, Family $45. Annual passes available for $55 single/$100 double.
2. Venue and Facility Hire: Rental income from Douglas Cook Library (60-70 seated/100 standing), Pavilion (30 people), Courtyard (160 capacity), and commercial kitchen. Catering and event services also generate revenue.
3. Accommodation Services: On-site lodging including Studio ($185/night), Twin Room ($135/night), Bunk Beds ($45-400/night), and NZMCA motorhome park ($10/night). Includes full kitchen access and arboretum entry.
4. Membership Program: Annual memberships providing unlimited access to over 13,000 trees, member discounts, priority access to experiences, and invitations to member-only events.
5. Donations and Bequests: Reliance on donations and bequests from NZ and overseas supporters for ongoing maintenance, endowment fund, and development. Specific, residuary, and pecuniary bequest options available.
6. Retail Sales: Gift shop sales of homeware, gifts, foodstuffs, and branded items. Members receive 10% discount. All purchases benefit education, research, and development projects.
7. Education Programs: School visit fees ($4/child), guided walks ($30-60), Nature Scavenger Hunt packs ($2), Find-and-Go-Seek challenges ($50), and tailored educational activities ($60/hr).
8. Guided Tours: Vehicle and walking tours at $40/person including entry, with group rates for 12+ people. Complimentary admission for group leaders and drivers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eastwoodhill Arboretum operates New Zealand's National Arboretum — a 135-hectare living collection of over 25,000 exotic and native trees, shrubs, and climbers sourced from 67 countries. The arboretum offers public access through walking trails, on-site accommodation (Studio, Twin, Bunk rooms, RV/Camper sites), guided botanical tours, venue hire for weddings/functions/conferences, school education programs, and an annual membership program. It also sells retail items from its on-site gift shop and operates as a charitable trust receiving no government funding.

Product overview

Eastwoodhill Arboretum operates as a physical visitor destination and event venue, offering a portfolio of interconnected services. The core offering centers on access to New Zealand's National Arboretum—a 135-hectare collection of 25,000+ tree specimens across walking trails. Revenue-generating services include on-site accommodation (Studio, Twin, Bunk rooms, and RV/NZMCA camping), venue hire (Courtyard, Pavilion, Library, Kitchen), and event services (weddings, functions, conferences). Educational programs serve school groups, while membership provides annual access. The integrated booking system (SpaceToco) connects accommodation and tours, while venue hire and events share common facilities. The venue operates 7 days weekly (9am-4pm) from a Visitor Centre hub containing shop, cafe, and education facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accommodation Services On-site lodging within the arboretum including Studio Room ($185/night), Twin Room ($135/night), Bunk Beds (from $45/night or $400 entire room), and RV/Camper sites ($10/night). Includes arboretum entry fee (except RVs), bedding, and kitchen access. Targeted at visitors seeking an immersive nature stay.
• Guided Walks & Vehicle Tours Curator-led Vehicle Tour and Walking Tour at $40/person (40 minutes, 10am–3pm daily, minimum 2 people, group rates for 12+), led by curating team members for visitors seeking expert interpretation of the collection.
• Venue Hire Rental of indoor and outdoor event spaces — Courtyard (160 capacity), Pavilion (30), Douglas Cook Library (60–70 seated / 100 standing), and fully equipped commercial kitchen — for weddings, conferences, and private functions.
• Wedding Services Wedding venue offering multiple ceremony locations including Tree Cathedral, Homestead Garden, and marquee options; receptions in the Library, Courtyard, or Pavilion. Targeted at couples seeking distinctive natural surroundings.
• Functions & Events Corporate events, conferences, retreats, and milestone celebrations utilizing flexible indoor/outdoor spaces and catering facilities for organizations and groups.
• Cycle Tour Packages 1–4 day cycle tour packages in partnership with Gisborne Cycle, with overnight accommodation at Eastwoodhill along the Motu Trails route for multi-day cycling tourists.
• Education Programs School visit programs ($4/student) including Nature Scavenger Hunt ($2/pack), Find-And-Go-Seek Challenge ($50/pack), Orienteering Group Challenges, Guided Walks ($30–60), and Tailored Educational Activities ($60/hour). In partnership with Tairāwhiti Museum. Targeted at pre-school through tertiary educational institutions.
• Membership Program Annual membership ($55 single / $100 double) providing unlimited access to 13,000+ trees, 10% gift shop discount, priority event booking, and member-only invitations. Targeted at conservation supporters and frequent visitors.
• Tree Collection Access (Arboretum Admission) Public access to 25,000+ specimens of exotic and native trees, shrubs and climbers across 135-hectare grounds via 25 km of walking trails, supported by an interactive collection map and interpretive signage. Admission: Adults $18, Seniors/Students $15, Children $5, Family $45.
• Gift Shop (Retail) On-site gift shop in the Visitor Centre selling homeware, gifts, foodstuffs, and branded items. Members receive a 10% discount; purchases support arboretum education, research, and development.

Quantifiable outcome

• International Dendrology Society recognition as first 'Arboretum Distinguished for Merit' recipient (1978)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tairāwhiti MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Educational partnership program where museum educators facilitate activities for New Entrants to Year 8 students. Bookings coordinated through the museum with activities aligned to curriculum objectives.
• New Zealand Arboretum Association (NZ Arb)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019MOU signed for sector collaboration and shared best practices among New Zealand arboreta.
• National Arboretum CanberracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2019MOU signed between the two national arboreta facilitating knowledge sharing, research collaboration, and mutual promotion of arboretum conservation missions.
• Gisborne CycleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal cycle tour operator providing 1-4 day tours to Eastwoodhill and surrounding region. Organizes all logistics for cyclists who can stay overnight at arboretum accommodation before continuing.
• Motu TrailsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional cycle trail organization whose routes pass through Eastwoodhill. Promotes arboretum as destination along GreatRide cycle trail network.
• Cruise Ship OperatorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with cruise lines to provide shore excursions for passengers visiting Gisborne. Hosted 19 cruise ships during summer season with additional cancellations due to weather.
• Gisborne District CouncilminorOthersParks and community relationship with local government authority. Former staff leadership experience created institutional connections for regional parks management.
• Te Whanau a KaicoreOthersLocal iwi (tribe) with historical and cultural connection to Eastwoodhill land. Board member Maxwell Matenga from Te Whanau a Kai leads cultural advisory initiatives weaving indigenous history into arboretum narrative.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Arboretum Canberra: Australia's national arboretum and formal MOU partner of Eastwoodhill since 2019. Directly comparable as a national-level arboretum with conservation, education, visitor and event mandates, providing a one-to-one benchmark for scale and operating model.
• Pukeiti (Taranaki Regional Gardens): A New Zealand public garden operating as a regional arboretum and member of the NZ Arboretum Association. Closely comparable as a domestic arboretum with public trails, events and education programmes at a smaller scale than Eastwoodhill.
• Westonbirt, The National Arboretum: The UK's national arboretum, managed by Forestry England, with a similarly significant tree collection, paid admission, events, and education mandate. Directly comparable as a national arboretum model with conservation and visitor experience at its core.
• The Dawes Arboretum: A large US arboretum and public garden in Ohio with extensive tree collections, trails, education and event venues. Comparable in offering an integrated arboretum experience combining conservation, public access and venue hire.

Regional players

• Auckland Botanic Gardens: The largest botanical garden in New Zealand, operated by Auckland Council. Comparable as a regional botanical attraction with paid events, education programmes, and visitor admissions, but funded by local government rather than self-sufficient like Eastwoodhill.
• Hamilton Gardens: A Waikato-based destination garden featuring themed garden collections and major event hosting. Comparable as a New Zealand visitor-facing botanical attraction with venue hire, education, and admissions revenue streams.
• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: A major Australasian botanical garden with significant plant collections, visitor programming and venue hire. Comparable as a Southern Hemisphere regional botanical attraction with similar operating pillars.
• Dunedin Botanic Garden: A New Zealand public garden operated by Dunedin City Council. Comparable as a domestic botanical attraction with visitor admissions, education and event offerings, but funded through local government rather than self-sufficient.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: A globally significant botanical institution with living collections, conservation science, education and major visitor operations. Comparable in mission and scale of collections, though far larger and broader in scientific scope than Eastwoodhill.

Others

• International Dendrology Society: The international body that awarded Eastwoodhill its inaugural 'Arboretum Distinguished for Merit' recognition. Relevant as an ecosystem participant linking the arboretum to global dendrology research, peer arboreta and conservation networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EastwoodhillArboretum
• Instagraminstagram.com/eastwoodhill_arboretum

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 eastwoodhill