Australia's batsmen exorcised their Ashes demons on the seaming wickets of New Zealand to reclaim the No.1 Test spot but face another Achilles heel if they are to stay there - spin on the subcontinent.
Captain Steve Smith has laid the challenge to his batsmen to overcome Australia's poor record on the dusty tracks of Asia, after they completed a 2-0 series win against the Black Caps.
The Australians have their eyes set on creating a dynasty but understand they cannot achieve that goal if they do not improve their record away from home. 
The victorious tour in New Zealand, Smith's first Test tour as captain, is a step in the right direction for a team that has not won a series on the subcontinent in 4\xC2&#189; years.
While Australia's opposition has been only moderate this summer, they have undergone huge transition in their batting and bowling ranks after the Ashes loss.
Their deep well of pace talent ensured they claimed 20 wickets in six of eight Tests despite being ravaged by injuries and retirement, while their batting, considered to be vulnerable, has become a strength.
Their batsmen have scored 19 centuries across eight Tests with Mitchell Marsh the only one of the top six not to reach three figures.
Smith, David Warner and Adam Voges all average above 50 while Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns are nudging that mark. Their ability to make big hundreds was the major difference between Australia and New Zealand across the two series.
"I was confident with the guys who were coming in that they'd do the job," Smith said.
"I think we scored 15 hundreds as a whole in our summer at home and big hundreds are what put your team in a very good position and I've been really pleased with the way the guys have been able to get through tough periods and be willing to bat for long periods of time."
Australia's next series is in Sri Lanka in   July-  August. They won 1-0 in their last visit, in 2011, but have since lost all six Tests in Asia - and by considerable margins.
"We want to win every series that we play and winning away from home is a big goal of mine and the team," Smith said.
"We were able to adapt to these conditions really well and obviously our next Test tour of Sri Lanka will be completely different conditions."
Australia comfortably ran down New Zealand's target 201 with seven wickets in hand. Burns top-scored with 65 while Smith made an unbeaten 53 off only 46 balls.
Smith was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Neil Wagner in the first innings and decided he would take on the paceman's barrage rather than take evasive action.
"I think I've only ever been hit in the head about three times," Smith said. "It's never nice seeing anyone get hit in the head, let alone being the one being hit."


SCOREBOARD
NEW ZEALAND: 1st innings 370, AUSTRALIA: 1st innings 505, NEW ZEALAND: 2nd innings 335
AUSTRALIA: 2nd innings                   R M B 4s 6s
J BURNS b Boult                               65 216 162 9 0
D WARNER c Watling b Wagner         22 51 33 3 0
U KHAWAJA c McCullum b Southee   45 109 66 4 0
S SMITH not out                               53 78 46 4 1
A VOGES not out                              10 25 19 2 0
Sundries (4lb, 2nb)6
TOTAL (for three wickets)                 201
FALL: 49 (Warner), 113 (Khawaja), 179 (Burns).
BOWLING: T Boult 17-1-60-1, T Southee 7-2-30-1, M Henry 9-1-33-0 (1nb), N Wagner 18-4-60-1 (1nb), C Anderson 3-0-14-0. BATTING TIME: 242 minutes. OVERS: 54.
UMPIRES: Richard Kettleborough (England), Ranmore Martinesz (Sri Lanka). MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad (England). THIRD UMPIRE: Richard Illingworth (England).
Australia won by 7 wickets. Australia won the two-match series 2-0.
Man of the match: Joe Burns (Australia).