Waterfalls and a tea farm

This past weekend we went to Raglan and Hamilton which are both about three hours north of New Plymouth - it seems that every place we want to visit is at least three hours away. Oh well, we get to see the countryside this way, including lots of baby sheep :) Raglan is a small, very cute coastal town that offers world-class surfing; probably the best in New Zealand. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great while we were there, but we hope to go back in the summer for some proper surfing lessons! We planned to stay two nights in Raglan, but one night in a not-so-nice rental house with a cockroach and what sounded like a tsunami warning alarm at two am, proved to be enough for us. So off to Hamilton we went, very early, the next morning. On the way we took a detour to see Bridal Veil falls. Only a ten minute walk through rainforest like trees and we arrived at the spectacular waterfalls. And the best part? We were the only ones there! 

Through the jungle we go!

Tyler always has to stop to read all the signs. Typical.

Can you spot Tyler?!

The waterfall. It was really amazing. Partially because we were the only ones there and we felt like we had this whole stunning place to ourselves. Also, everything is so green and lush and beautiful already - the waterfall is just the cherry on top!

Waterfall selfie ;)

Striking a pose.

Can you see me?!

Walking down just a few stairs to check out the view from the bottom.

View from the bottom. Just as good as from the top!

One last look.

The view leaving Raglan on our way to Hamilton.

Just outside Hamilton is New Zealand's one and only tea farm (or planation) called Zealong. There is one tea plantation in Australia and none in North America, most being in Asia. So I figure this is probably the only one we will ever go to! We are both big tea drinkers but are really quite clueless about where it comes from, how it's made, etc. so we found the tour quite informative and interesting. Zealong claims the reputation of the "worlds purest tea" as it's organic, hand picked, and accredited in  world leading food safety standards that no other tea farm in the world is. Right now they make three kinds of oolong tea and one black tea.

The traditional Chinese tea making process.

Garden teapot!

Oolong translates into "black dragon" in Chinese.

Rows and rows of tea plants. 

Those are the tea leaves your tea comes from!

Tyler enjoying a traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony.

We bought the black tea to bring home. Although the oolong was good, it wasn't really our thing. Too earthy for me. And who knew pure tea could be so expensive?! My only regret was not staying for high tea. Next time...the little sandwiches and sweets looked delicious.