Dunedin has the best ice in the southern hemisphere and the Australian team makes good use of it.
The three-day Australian championships start at the Dunedin Ice Stadium today. This is the second time they have been held in the city after they were first held here five years ago.
Since the Dunedin Ice Stadium was opened in 2004, the Australian team has regularly come to Dunedin to train.
It is the quality of the ice that attracts the visitors because, in Australia, ice hockey has the priority and the rinks are geared for that game.
''Our target is to keep a world-class quality of ice at the stadium,'' head Dunedin ice maker Rhys Aitken said.
International figure skaters, speed skaters and curlers regularly come to Dunedin to train on the ice.
There are two specific curling rinks in New Zealand and both are in Otago - Naseby and Dunedin.
The benefit of Dunedin is that it is close to an international airport and motel accommodation is close to the rink.
The International Curling Rink in Naseby has also attracted the elite curlers, and two Australian championships have been held there.
