Representing an Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup (ACJBC) representative squad, Limbrick and his side picked up two wins from their six games at Tauranga.

The touring Australian boys were always going to find the going tough against teams a year older than them and with more time to practice and play together.

"Overall, it was a great experience. I got to play with a great team and everyone was really friendly," Limbrick said.

"I really enjoyed playing against other countries. It was very different to playing at home, very physical.

"I really appreciate having the opportunity to play in NZ. We played six games in total, and all of them were tough battles. It was great to have a couple of wins, though."

The Australian touring side were selected from the under 16s age group and knew

ACJBC were given a tough welcome to the under 17s division A tournament in a 95-69 loss to the home side.

The Australians bounced back the following day with a 70-56 win over Franklin before going down to Hawkes Bay 93-71.

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They were no match for Waikato in a 92-61 quarter-final defeat.

In ACJBC's most closely contest game of the tournament they picked up an 80-72 win over Rotorua but couldn't finish on a high note in a 109-79 loss to New Plymouth during the fifth place playoff.

That left the Australians in sixth place out of eight competitors.

Given their lack of match time together that was nothing for the touring party to feel bad about.

Limbrick enjoyed several matches in the starting five, relishing the chance to take on some serious opposition.

The Bathurst player was joined on tour by Lithgow's Adam Marjoram, as coach, to give the Central West strong representation across the ditch.

"The level of competition was extremely high. We were in an age group up so it was hard for us but that just made us compete harder," Limbrick said.

"I feel like this experience has improved my game. And Adam is a great coach.

"We also got to do a cultural visit to Rotorua where we learned to do the haka. It was great fun."

Waitakere West Auckland beat Waikato 90-69 in the final.

Australia didn't leave New Zealand empty handed with their under 15s and 17s girls sides coming home as champions.