The squad returned to Dunedin late on Tuesday night having performed admirably, winning three of its five games.
Nuggets guard Sam To'omata was one of the standouts along with point guard James Ross and promising forward Tom Rowe and guard Riki Buckrell.
Former Tall Black Andrew Parke and Chris Hepburn split the minutes at centre and also turned in some impressive efforts against some tough opponents.
The team made a good start to the tour with a 58-43 win over Frankston and beat a tall Diamond Valley side 65-51.
A slow start cost the Nuggets in their 83-58 loss to Victoria State under-20 representative side.
The tourists could manage only two points in the opening quarter and trailed by 14 points at the first break.
Turnovers at crucial times saw the Nuggets lose an evenly contested match 71-69 to the Tiger development team but they bounced back to win the final game of the tour.
Having trailed the Kilsyth Cobras by as much as 17 points, the Nuggets rallied to win 64-59.
"I was really pleased with how we went," Arlidge said.
"I think this trip was really good for us as a group and as a stepping stone.
"A lot of the teams we played were definitely the equivalent to playing national league teams in New Zealand."
"I think we could have won all of the games.
"We changed the line-up most games to give everyone an opportunity and to see what they could give us."
To'omata was outstanding on the tour and Arlidge is hopeful he will have a breakout year in the National Basketball League having spent last season as back up for former Tall Black point guard Paul Henare at the Christchurch Cougars.
Meanwhile, Arlidge expects the franchise will sign at least one American import before Christmas and is in negotiations with "a couple of guys outside of Dunedin".
"I don't want to get into a bidding war.
"If they want to come here it will be for the culture that we are trying to create."
