hey there Snappy - aint it great?

If you decide you like hills, you should think about trying the K2 --- though I don't think you'll be seeing me riding in it, just cheering from the side

http://www.cycleclub.co.nz/eventsCalendar.htm
link to Manakau, Auckland club

http://202.20.65.2:3000/sportzHUB/ARC/K2_Noticeboard/
event summary from last year

http://www.ramblers.co.nz/links.asp
Link to my local club which lists events round NZ abd a few overseas

But yeah, views are great. I think its understood that no matter where you drive in NZ you are only about 2 hours away from the ocean - and we still have the amazing forests and mountains - the backbone of the fish Maui pulled up so long ago