Quote Originally Posted by RoadRaven
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
RoadRaven,

Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha!
I'm trying to break myself in gently here!! LOL!
Plan to do the Taupo Challenge (160km), the Hamilton to Auckland (measly 97km!!) and the Taranki Challenge - that's enough for starters!
Thanks for the links - that's brilliant, but dangerous! Hee hee!