About Zealong Tea Estate
Zealong on Gordonton Road, just outside Hamilton, is the only commercial tea estate in New Zealand. Its tea is certified organic and grown on terraces that you can see from the tea room. The grounds also hold a sculpture walk and gardens, a guest house for overnight stays, and several venues for functions and weddings.
The guided experiences run on Saturdays. The Guided Tour and Tea Ceremony starts at 9:30am, takes about two hours, and leads small groups along the sculpture walk to the tea gardens before a ceremony and tasting; it was NZ$89 per person in October 2026. The Afternoon Tea Tasting starts at 2pm, lasts about an hour and was NZ$50. Either can be upgraded to the Signature High Tea for NZ$84 more. If you cannot make a Saturday, the boutique offers tastings by arrangement.
The Tea Room opens Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm for a signature high tea or a light lunch set, with tables held for two hours, and the Retail Boutique opens the same days from 9:30am to 5pm with loose leaf tea, tea bags, tea powder and teaware. Both are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can walk the grounds and sculpture walk without a booking during opening hours.
Lavender Backyard Garden, on Hamilton's eastern edge, is about 20 minutes away and opens its fields for summer lavender and blueberry picking.
What to do
- Join the Saturday Guided Tour and Tea Ceremony at 9:30am
- Book the Saturday Afternoon Tea Tasting at 2pm
- Have a signature high tea overlooking the tea terraces
- Walk the sculpture walk without a booking
- Shop for loose leaf tea and teaware in the boutique
Season, hours and prices
- Hours
- Tea Room Thu–Mon 10am–5pm; Retail Boutique Thu–Mon 9:30am–5pm; closed Tue–Wed (as listed October 2026)
- Admission
- Grounds and sculpture walk open without booking; Guided Tour and Tea Ceremony NZ$89, Afternoon Tea Tasting NZ$50 (2026)
Good to know
- Accessibility
- Paths are mostly flat with some uneven ground and a gravel slope to the Tea Room; accessible toilets at the boutique and Tea Room
- Reservations
- Recommended
Tips for your visit
- Book the Tea Room and tours ahead; walk-ins can still see the grounds
- Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays and on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day
- A 15% Tea Room surcharge applies on other public holidays
- Contact the estate before booking if you need an easier route
Pair it with a lavender farm
Lavender Backyard Garden · about 20 minutes away
Pair a morning tea tour with a summer visit to Lavender Backyard Garden's lavender and blueberry rows on Hamilton's eastern edge.
Getting there
Questions
Do I need to book?
Bookings are recommended for the Tea Room and tours, but you can walk the grounds without one.
When do the tours run?
On Saturdays: the guided tour at 9:30am and the afternoon tasting at 2pm.
Which days is it open?
Thursday to Monday; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Hamilton & the Waikato, New Zealand
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
