But despite the dreamy backdrop of the Remarkables, England batsman Ian Bell insists the tourists will not be taking their warm-up match with the New Zealand XI lightly, although clearly there are bigger challenges than a warm-up game and the three-game test series against New Zealand beginning in Dunedin next month.
Thoughts of the Ashes series are never far from an Englishman's mind.
''It is important to win this series and take that momentum back to England,'' Bell said.
''But as a group we are looking ahead a bit and trying to understand each other that bit better. With 10 Ashes test matches coming up it is important that we are playing our best test cricket then.
''So, yeah, this tour is important for us. Obviously, we want to win all three series out here in New Zealand.
''But we learnt a lesson last time we were in New Zealand when we lost in Hamilton after playing poorly. We had to work really hard to win that series and we don't want to be in that position again.
''So we have to earn the right and that means turning up in the first hour, whether we are batting or bowling, and doing everything we can, as if it was an Ashes series.
''We are going to have to play well because there are some world-class players in that New Zealand team.''
Bell said England had taken a lot of confidence from its 2-1 test series win in India last year and, from a personal perspective, he was satisfied with his own game.
''I'm happy with the way I'm hitting the ball and it would be nice to spend a bit of time in the middle in this game and take some momentum into the next game.''
England will name its side for the warm-up game today. Strike bowlers Steven Finn and James Anderson may be given a rest. But there will not be much respite if they are, with Graham Onions and Chris Woakes eager for opportunities.
''We don't know the team yet, but I'm sure it will be as strong an XI as possible to try and win the game. We try and see these as proper games. We don't want to coast through the game.
"We need to put in a good team performance.''
