Friends of the Hamer Arboretum spokesman Roger Mendelson said the arboretum was a special place for bushwalkers and shouldn't be exposed to commercial exploitation.

A Tasmanian company, Australian Zip Line Canopy Tours, has won the Parks Victoria tender to build a guided canopy tour facility at the RJ Hamer Arboretum.

Although plans are under way for extensive community consultation, Mr Mendelson said the friends group was committed to stopping the venture, expected to attract 50,000 visitors a year.

"It's not about consultation, we'd rather not have it in the first place. We see Parks Victoria as the guardians of this area, not partners of commercial exploitation. It's not a question about negotiations and concessions, it's such a pristine area that needs protection."

Friends of the Hamer Arboretum is made up of regular bushwalkers and lifelong Dandenong Ranges residents.

"You don't see this anywhere in the world. Pristine bushland so close to the city is just irreplaceable. I'm not against progress and business, but when you have a resource like this it must be protected."

Mr Mendelson said the group would do whatever it took, use all levels of government, to stop the guided canopy tour development in its tracks.

"Genuine bushwalkers go out of their way to come here and walk. I don't see why you need all the bells and whistles to attract new people."

Parks Victoria spokesman David Petty said thorough environmental, heritage and visitor impact studies over the next six-eight months would include extensive community consultation.

"The proposed use of RJ Hamer Arboretum is a significant eco-adventure tourism enterprise which is supported, provided that it does not unreasonably impact on the site."