A three-year redevelopment and upgrading programme carried out at Tutira Education and Outdoor Adventure Centre has led to an increase in visitors.
Guthrie Smith Trust chairman David Allan, the trust which carried out the redevelopment said the centre was set to become a national asset.
"We have very definitely seen an increase and that is great for the region," Mr Allan said. "It is already a regional asset but we are sure it will become a national one."
The redevelopment programme was aimed at improving services like water supply, pathways through the extensive and expanding Arboretum forest and renovating the education centre that has been home to school camps for the last 40 years.
Mr Allan paid tribute to the "friends" of the trust who had helped provide funding.
"In broad terms more than $100,000 has been spent on the programme - we have always enjoyed good support but we have had to invest significant capital over the past 12 months."
Along with the planting of trees across the rolling landscape which borders Lake Tutira and Lake Orakai, the upgrades had resulted in a tourism and education facility which was becoming a "wonderful asset", Mr Allan said.
The works would continue, and part of the long-term plan was the development of a more sophisticated visitor information centre as well as a cafe.
March had been a busy month with 100 Year 5 pupils from Te Mata School in Havelock North continuing a long tradition of staging school camps at Tutira -25 at a time in four weekly camps.
Teacher and organiser of the camps Sharron Tomlinson described the camp's adventures and activities as "safe yet challenging enough to encourage pupils to step outside of their comfort zones".
She said the camps built valuable confidence.
"They discover they can do more than they anticipated they could."
Last weekend, the Greenmeadows Rotary Club staged its annual Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN) for about 30 young people aged between 14 and 17 from Gisborne through to Waipukurau.
The teenagers went through high rope exercises, canoeing, flying kiwi (flying fox) and night walk activities led by Guthrie Smith instructors.
Orienteering groups had also shown increased interest in the facilities.
"There is already a very good map established but what's of most interest is that the site will continue to grow," said Roger Mulvay from the Hawke's Bay Orienteering Club.
"We use a number of pine forests but owners cut down the trees and then it's of little use to us - but the Arboretum will continue to grow and there are areas that we will map for the future."
He said the club planned to become a "friend" of Guthrie Smith Tutira.
The Arboretum area spreads over 90ha with trees planted in groups from nine distinct geographical regions - New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan, Himalayas, Europe, Mexico, North America, and the Mediterranean.
Mr Allan said he expected visitor numbers to continue to increase so the funding issue became crucial.
Bookings were already locked in for the next season, which will run between November and May.
The centre closes for the winter when re-planting programmes are carried out.