Zealong Tea Estate 495 Gordonton Road, Gordonton, Hamilton, Waikato 3281

"We had lunch at Zealong on a public holiday. It was an overcast day and they were still very busy. The staff there were all amazing - friendly, gentle and warm. We were seated outdoor with enclosed area and heaters all around if we do require. We had two children (7&9), but they did not have kids menu which was a bit disappointing. We ended up ordering a high tea for each of them. The lunch options were not suitable for the children. Food was great and the teas are a good compliment to our meals. Great presentation and good atmosphere here. Playground for the kids were sub-par, but I guess that’s not what Zealong’s main focus is."

"Lunch at Zealong. We started with the crayfish ravioli which was amazing. The surprise was to find piece of decent size crayfish underneath the ravioli. Usually it is done with a crayfish mousse encased inside the ravioli and the sauce is so amazing. Next we had baby lamb rack which as tender, moist and succulent cooked to your preference. Delicious. And again the sauce was amazing. Next we had the chocolate cake with sago which was an unusual combination but worked really well together. We also had the blood orange terrine which was wonderfully fresh and light. I would say that this lunch was of a very high standard and thoroughly enjoyable. The chef changes the menu often so it pays to go soon to try out the menu."

"Aromatic tea and outstandingly tasty food. The food is so well sauced that we ordered extra bread to enjoy without any leftovers. We would like to note our thanks to the chef. I would also highly recommend this restaurant to Japanese travellers who are not comfortable with English, as several of the staff have experience of staying in Japan. We were also surprised at how clean the tea garden was. There was not a single piece of plastic waste, which is common in tea plantations. This is completely different from tea gardens in China, where the taste is good but safety is not guaranteed at all. Among the teas, I particularly liked the pure oolong tea and the aromatic oolong tea. I bought some as souvenirs to take back to Japan and they were very well received by Japanese fans of Chinese tea."

"We enjoyed a pleasant and happy lunch with a wide tea field in front of us. I also liked the various sculptures on the theme of tea and the spacious resting area. The food was also really good. Weddings and events can be held here, so if you get a chance, please use it."