A Lisa De Vanna equaliser cancelled out Katie Bowen's long range strike to ensure the Matildas and the Football Ferns finished 1-1 in the second of the two friendlies at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night. 
Both goals came in the second half and the two nations now get set to travel to the Rio Olympics, where the Australians, ranked fifth in the world, will fancy their chances of a medal more than the 16th-rated New Zealanders.
A slow burner of a game didn't really look like igniting until the half hour mark as both sides sparred and probed but failed to create many clear cut openings.
The theme was developed early when Australia's Caitlin Foord fired wide in the sixth minute, her effort replicated at the other end by Amber Heart after she had been played through by Annalie Longo. Erin Nayler, the Ferns' goalkeeper , came out and failed to punch clear, presenting Kyah Simon with an opportunity, but the Matildas forward did not get enough purchase on her shot.
The Ferns went close when Kirsty Yallop's corner wasn't cleared before Elise Kellond-Knight shot wide and Simon headed past the post from a Clare Polkinghorne cross.
The game stepped up a gear shortly before the break when Foord produced a surging run from deep to fashion an opportunity, but again shot over.
Katrina Gorry then made space for herself before sending her shot off target, while at the other end Hannah Wilkinson's shot was saved by Matildas keeper Lydia Williams.
Kyah Simon tested Nayler again shortly after the restart with a shot from the edge of the penalty area which the goalkeeper did well to tip over the bar.
The Football Ferns came close to breaking the deadlock when captain Abby Erceg hit the bar from a corner with a header in the 50th minute as the visitors looked to impose themselves on the Australians.
They did so soon after when Katie Bowen fired them into the lead with a shot from outside the area when the ball bounced free after Sarah Gregorius' run was halted. Bowen reacted quickest to the rebound and lofted a shot over Williams head.
Gorry came close with a chipped shot that landed on the roof of New Zealand's net, then Amber Hearn had an opportunity to double the Ferns advantage when a poor clearance presented her with a chance to beat Williams but she too lifted her effort just over the bar.
The Matildas looked as though they were going to need something special, and that's just what they got from captain De Vanna with 17 minutes remaining.
The veteran forward linked well with substitute Michelle Heyman before making space for herself and firing a low drive across goal that gave Nayler little chance.
Foord almost stole the win for Australia with a shot that was blocked by Nayler and Heyman thought she had notched a winner before her "goal" was ruled out for offside.