The grass is greener

This morning, we went to a jade shop across the street from our hotel on the way out of Rotorua. This shop was interesting, because they led us into the production area in the back where the stone was cut, shaped and polished. It was pretty cool- diamond tipped tools were on the countertops, and beautiful pieces of stone were just sitting on the bottom shelves. 

 

They made pieces of jewelry In this shop, then sold them out front. There were pretty things at fair prices out there in the store, but nothing was so impressive that it had to come home with me. I really admired a piece of sculpture they had in the window, but it would have put our luggage way overweight and relieved us of about as much money as the whole trip cost. 

Just browsing, thanks... But it was a beautiful green. 

When we left there, we started heading to Auckland. Along the way, we stopped at a place that is working on helping to bring back the population of kiwi birds. They retrieve the eggs from the forest, hatch them, care for the baby birds, then release them. It turns out that the introduction of other animals kind of did a number on the native population. The birds have a better shot at longevity if they get to be babies in a safe place. 

We saw two birds in natural-seeming enclosures, but they wouldn't let us take photos. Apparently, it's bad manners to photograph nocturnal animals in a dark room in the middle of the day. 

We drove the rest of the way to Auckland past some of the greenest grass I have ever seen. 

 

And rainbows! We saw several rainbows. 

 

We've just arrived in Auckland and taken a drive around the city with narration from Richard, our Maori bus driver. It's off to the Sky Tower to take in a view of the whole city.