Simon Katich has stood firm against the New Zealand attack in the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington to reach 74 at tea on the opening day.
The 34-year-old left-hander helped his side to 3-163 at the break, after seeing his fellow top-order batsmen fall victim to some decent Black Caps bowling.
First to go was Phil Hughes who, as a late replacement for the injured Shane Watson, came out firing on all cylinders and got the visiting side out to a quick start before New Zealand debutant Brent Arnel struck to end his innings on 20.
With Katich taking it slow down one end, Ricky Ponting kept the run rate ticking over for Australia to hit the sheds at lunch sitting on 1-93.
The captain did not last too much longer, however, and he was disappointingly run out by BJ Watling on 41, bringing Mike Hussey to the crease.
Hussey never looked settled and was soon caught by Watling for four off Chris Martin's bowling, leaving Australia looking a little vulnerable on 3-115.
But Katich, along with Michael Clarke, stabilised the innings and notched his 21st half-century off 132 balls.
Daryl Tuffey was solid with his right-arm quick bowling, giving away just 13 runs off his first 10 overs while captain Daniel Vettori went for just 34 runs of his 14 overs.
Earlier Ponting, who won every toss in the recently completed Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, sent his side in to bat on Thursday on a bouncy-looking pitch that he likened to the WACA.
Disaster had struck Australia before play even started when Watson was ruled out of the Test at the last minute when he aggravated a hip injury he picked up in the fourth ODI match while training in the warm-up.
On a more positive note for the tourists, seamer Ryan Harris overcame a side strain to make his Test match debut. Clint McKay was named as 12th man.
Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori opted for the pace of Arnel over a second spin option, meaning Jeetan Patel will again provide cover as 12th man.