Australia has cantered to victory in the third Test against New Zealand at the SCG, having secured a crushing 279-run win and a series whitewash against their trans-Tasman rivals.

David Warner (111 not out) continued his rich vein of form by scoring his 24th Test century on day four, as Australia steadily romped to a total of 2-217 (declared) midway through the afternoon session.

Spinner Nathan Lyon (5-50) then did much of the damage with the ball by taking five wickets — and 10 for the match — as the Black Caps were all out for a paltry 136.

They could only field 10 batsmen, with tailender Matt Henry unable to bat because of injury.

New Zealand's players will not have fond memories of this Australian tour. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

The 3-0 series triumph followed Australia's 2-0 victory over Pakistan earlier in the summer, giving captain Tim Paine and his troops a perfect record at home.

The dismantling of New Zealand's innings began when Lyon took a spectacular catch at point to remove Tom Blundell (2) off the bowling of Mitchell Starc (3-25), before he bowled consecutive wicket maidens to have Jeet Raval (12) and Glenn Phillips (0) caught behind by Paine.

Jeet Raval played nicely before being done by a Nathan Lyon jaffa. ( AAP: Dan Himbrechts )

Ross Taylor (22) provided one bright moment for Black Caps fans, passing Stephen Fleming to become the leading run scorer in New Zealand Test cricketing history in his 99th Test.

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He passed the mark of 7,172 runs moments before being comprehensively bowled by a peach of a delivery by Pat Cummins (1-29) that moved away off the seam after angling in to catch the top of off stump.

BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme provided some resistance via a 69-run stand for the sixth wicket, with the latter impressing with a gutsy 52.

But the removal of de Grandhomme triggered the final collapse of the Black Caps innings, with the final three wickets falling with just 29 runs added to their total.

Among the many Australian highlights towards the end was a brilliant diving catch from James Pattinson near mid-off to dismiss Todd Astle for 17, the scalp one of Lyon's five in the Black Caps' second knock.

Earlier, the Australian batsmen made things look absurdly easy, scoring at a rate of over four runs per over off the back of Warner's unbeaten century.

David Warner was in sumptuous form. ( Photosport via AP: Andrew Cornaga )

Warner's ton came from just 159 balls and was his third of a hugely productive summer after he laboured to a total of 95 runs from 10 innings in England.

After losing opening partner Joe Burns (40), Warner enjoyed a 110-run partnership alongside Marnus Laubuschagne, who added a half-century to the double century he made in the first innings.

Laubuschagne was eventually out for 59 and his dismissal was the cue for Paine to declare Australia's second innings closed.

The only sour point of Australia's innings was when it was penalised five runs for running on the wicket, which were added to New Zealand's first innings score.

See how it all unfolded in our day four blog.