With eight months until their next Test match, the Australian side appears already settled, with team leaders closing ranks around the XI.

That will mean an extended run for Steve Smith as opener and security of tenure for Alex Carey after his superb unbeaten 98, leading the tourists in their run chase to win the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald has backed in the team that continued the country's 31-year unbeaten run across the Tasman, rebounding from 4-34 to chase the winning target of 279.

While not blind to the team's shortcomings, McDonald said the "incredible achievement" deserved recognition.

The side has been on a mighty nine-month slog, starting with the World Test Championship final in London, followed days later by the Ashes, then the one-day international World Cup, a home summer featuring five Tests against Pakistan and West Indies, then three ODIs, six T20s and two more Tests in New Zealand.

"We talked about this game being a game to reward ourselves on the journey that we've been on," he said.

"[Collapsing to] 4-34 [was] not ideal and we've probably found ourselves in those situations a little bit too often.

"But the real positive is that we're able to work our way through that and find a way to win."

The Australians celebrated richly on Monday night before going their separate ways — some staying in New Zealand with family, others heading home with the Indian Premier League starting later this month.

Most of the squad will regroup ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in June, but the Test specialists do not have a match until India arrive in November.

The summer's results — including a tied series against West Indies and a near-miss in New Zealand — have drawn criticism, much centred on Smith's suitability as an opener and the decision to elevate him to that position after David Warner's retirement.

McDonald said it was too early to judge the 34-year-old, who is averaging just 37 with two centuries and four half-centuries in 33 innings since the 2023 New Year's Test.

"He is a great player and his ability to problem-solve is one of his great strengths. He's been challenged in these conditions," he said.

"Walking away here with 51 runs [from four innings] in tough conditions, that'll no doubt drive him to the next challenge.

"That next challenge is India. It will be an internal motivator for him. He wants to open … we think he can make it work."

While stressing he was not picking the Test team this week, McDonald's support was plain.