Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - SYD facilities

I am doing a MR on UA in a few weeks (DEN-LAX-SYD-MEL RT) and will be doing so with an approx 2 hour layover in both SYD and MEL. I would like to freshen up in SYD (inbound or outbound) as well as LAX. I've looked at the SYD airport website after it was clear that RCC does not offer shower facilities in SYD (F class lounge does though) and found a couple of public in-terminal places where (presumably for a price) I can take a shower and freshen up before getting back on the plane. Are there any recommendations on the best place to go to wash the sleep out of my eyes? I don't want to be shopping around since my layover is pretty tight. Similar question for LAX on my return. I am 1K, RCC member but flying Q fare. Thanks.

As *G you have access to NZ lounge at SYD. This has great showers, fantastic view of the tarmac and nice food.

NZ currently doesnt have its own lounge at MEL (shares with RCC :td: ), I cant recall if the SQ lounge has a shower or not.

Since you are UA *G on an international itinerary, wont you have access to RCC at LAX?

Looking at NZ's Koru club, for international locations such as SYD, it states "Access to an Air New Zealand International Lounge or associate airline's lounge is only available to the Member prior to the Member's boarding of an Air New Zealand International flight or at such other times as determined by Air New Zealand in its sole discretion" and my UA flight is not a NZ codeshare, it's strictly UA. If *G and RCC members (one or the other) gets me past that - great. As for LAX, unless flying business or first, there does not appear to be an Arrivals option for a RCC member to anything but non-shower like facilities. Do I have that wrong as well?

If *G and RCC members (one or the other) gets me past that - great.I assume that you are on UA metal from SYD to MEL, and therefore departing from the international terminal at SYD. So as 1K = *G, why would you not have access to a *A carrier's lounge when flying on a *A carrier?Star Alliance Gold Card Holder (http://www.staralliance.com/star_alliance/star/content/lounge_access.html)

Star Alliance Gold card holders and one guest, have access to any lounge that is identified with a Star Alliance Gold lounge sign when departing on a Star Alliance flight.

Looking at NZ's Koru club, for international locations such as SYD, it states "Access to an Air New Zealand International Lounge or associate airline's lounge is only available to the Member prior to the Member's boarding of an Air New Zealand International flight or at such other times as determined by Air New Zealand in its sole discretion" and my UA flight is not a NZ codeshare, it's strictly UA. If *G and RCC members (one or the other) gets me past that - great. As for LAX, unless flying business or first, there does not appear to be an Arrivals option for a RCC member to anything but non-shower like facilities. Do I have that wrong as well?

That wording is only there to mean, as with all *G lounges, NZ reserves the right to turn pax away if needed (ie lounge is full). And if they have to turn people away they'll do so for those flying other *A airlines first. That said I have never seen it happen although there has been one or two reports on FT. As *G departing SYD on a *A same day flight you will have access. Enjoy the great shower.