diff --git a/ci/doc.yml b/ci/doc.yml
index 5a3afbdf..db4f92b1 100644
--- a/ci/doc.yml
+++ b/ci/doc.yml
@@ -2,18 +2,19 @@ name: datatree-doc
 channels:
   - conda-forge
 dependencies:
+  - h5netcdf
+  - ipython
+  - netcdf4
+  - numpydoc
   - pip
+  - pooch
   - python>=3.8
-  - netcdf4
   - scipy
   - sphinx
-  - sphinx-copybutton
-  - numpydoc
   - sphinx-autosummary-accessors
-  - ipython
-  - h5netcdf
+  - sphinx-copybutton
+  - xarray >= 2022.6.0
   - zarr
   - pip:
-      - git+https://github.com/xarray-contrib/datatree
       - pangeo-sphinx-book-theme
-      - xarray>=2022.05.0.dev0
+      - -e ..
diff --git a/ci/environment.yml b/ci/environment.yml
index 1aa9af93..f1ebe03d 100644
--- a/ci/environment.yml
+++ b/ci/environment.yml
@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ channels:
   - conda-forge
   - nodefaults
 dependencies:
-  - python>=3.8
-  - netcdf4
-  - pytest
-  - flake8
   - black
   - codecov
-  - pytest-cov
+  - flake8
   - h5netcdf
+  - netcdf4
+  - pooch
+  - pytest
+  - pytest-cov
+  - python>=3.8
+  - xarray>=2022.6.0
   - zarr
-  - pip:
-      - xarray>=2022.05.0.dev0
diff --git a/datatree/__init__.py b/datatree/__init__.py
index 8de251a4..72f34d58 100644
--- a/datatree/__init__.py
+++ b/datatree/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from . import tutorial
+
 # import public API
 from .datatree import DataTree
 from .io import open_datatree
@@ -17,4 +19,5 @@
     "TreeIsomorphismError",
     "map_over_subtree",
     "__version__",
+    "tutorial",
 )
diff --git a/datatree/tests/test_tutorial.py b/datatree/tests/test_tutorial.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a1c234c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datatree/tests/test_tutorial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+from datatree import DataTree, tutorial
+
+
+@pytest.mark.network
+class TestLoadSampleData:
+    @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+    def setup(self):
+        self.asset = "cesm2-lens"
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def monkeypatch_import_error(self, monkeypatch):
+        monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "pooch", None)
+
+    def test_download(self, tmp_path) -> None:
+        cache_dir = tmp_path / tutorial._default_cache_dir_name
+        dt = tutorial.open_datatree(self.asset, cache_dir=cache_dir)
+        assert isinstance(dt, DataTree)
+
+    def test_pooch_import_error(self, monkeypatch_import_error):
+        with pytest.raises(ImportError):
+            tutorial.open_datatree(self.asset)
+
+    def test_invalid_datatree_sample_key(self):
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+            tutorial.open_datatree("invalid")
diff --git a/datatree/tutorial.py b/datatree/tutorial.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0122fd62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datatree/tutorial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+import pathlib
+import typing
+
+from .datatree import DataTree
+from .io import open_datatree as _open_datatree
+
+_default_cache_dir_name = "xarray_datatree_data"
+base_url = "https://carbonplan-share.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/xarray-datatree"
+
+
+SAMPLE_DATASETS = {
+    "cesm2-lens": "cesm2-lens.nc",
+    "cmip6": "cmip6.nc",
+}
+
+
+def _construct_cache_dir(path):
+    import pooch
+
+    if isinstance(path, os.PathLike):
+        path = os.fspath(path)
+    elif path is None:
+        path = pooch.os_cache(_default_cache_dir_name)
+
+    return path
+
+
+def open_datatree(
+    name: typing.Literal["cesm2-lens", "cmip6"],
+    cache_dir: str | pathlib.Path | None = None,
+    *,
+    engine: str = "netcdf4",
+    **kwargs,
+) -> DataTree:
+    """
+    Open a datatree from the xarray-datatree online repository (requires internet access).
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    name : str
+        The name of the datatree to open. Valid names are
+
+         * ``'cesm2-lens'``
+         * ``'cmip6'``
+
+    cache_dir : str | pathlib.Path
+        The directory to cache the datatree in. If None, the default cache directory is used.
+    engine : str
+        The engine to use for the datatree.
+    kwargs : dict
+        Additional keyword arguments to pass to the xarray.open_dataset function.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    datatree : DataTree
+        The datatree.
+
+    """
+    try:
+        import pooch
+    except ImportError as e:
+        raise ImportError(
+            "pooch is required to download and open sample datasets.  To proceed please install pooch using: `python -m pip install pooch` or `conda install -c conda-forge pooch`."
+        ) from e
+
+    logger = pooch.get_logger()
+    logger.setLevel("WARNING")
+    cache_dir = _construct_cache_dir(cache_dir)
+    try:
+        path = SAMPLE_DATASETS[name]
+    except KeyError as exc:
+        raise KeyError(
+            f"{name} is not a valid sample dataset. Valid names are {list(SAMPLE_DATASETS.keys())}"
+        ) from exc
+
+    url = f"{base_url}/{path}"
+    asset_path = pooch.retrieve(url=url, known_hash=None, path=cache_dir)
+    return _open_datatree(asset_path, engine=engine, **kwargs)
diff --git a/docs/source/api.rst b/docs/source/api.rst
index 9ad74190..e27c4c12 100644
--- a/docs/source/api.rst
+++ b/docs/source/api.rst
@@ -287,6 +287,12 @@ Create or
 Tutorial
 ========
 
+.. autosummary::
+   :toctree: generated/
+
+   tutorial.open_datatree
+
+
 Testing
 =======
 
diff --git a/docs/source/whats-new.rst b/docs/source/whats-new.rst
index 514dda9e..d368124c 100644
--- a/docs/source/whats-new.rst
+++ b/docs/source/whats-new.rst
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ v0.0.10 (unreleased)
 New Features
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
+- Add `tutorial` module for accessing sample datasets (:pull:`142`).
+  By `Anderson Banihirwe <https://github.com/andersy005>`_.
+
 Breaking changes
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 9a5664de..5111a899 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -52,3 +52,7 @@ known_first_party = datatree
 [mypy]
 files = datatree/**/*.py
 show_error_codes = True
+
+[tool:pytest]
+markers =
+    network: tests requiring a network connection