Air New Zealand Air Points - A short visit to NZ

I find myself with about 4 days free in SYD before I have some commitments, and was looking at the NZ flight schedule and available award tickets. I have found seats on NZ's flights (all within about 20 minutes of each other!) on SYD-AKL, SYD-WLG, and SYD-CHC. On my return, I have a choice of the 772 on AKL-MEL (I guess the fully flat seats) at the horrible departure time of 07:00 vs the A320 at 15:30.
A few questions:
1) I see the SYD-AKL is on the 763, while the other two are on smaller A320s. Is the dinner service any different between aircraft on the three routes? Also, how about meal service on AKL-MEL on the afternoon A320 vs. the morning 772? Will I be missing out much by taking the afternoon flight? I realize it's a short trip--so not a big deal; I just like to know my choices ahead of time. :)
2) From looking at Seatguru, the 772 are amazing, while the 763 have decent enough pitch, but I'm guessing (it's not listed on Seatguru) the A320s are much tighter. True?
3) Finally, OT, which city would you visit for a short trip? It'd be a quick intro to NZ, with more to come in the future.
Thanks!

I find myself with about 4 days free in SYD before I have some commitments, and was looking at the NZ flight schedule and available award tickets. I have found seats on NZ's flights (all within about 20 minutes of each other!) on SYD-AKL, SYD-WLG, and SYD-CHC. On my return, I have a choice of the 772 on AKL-MEL (I guess the fully flat seats) at the horrible departure time of 07:00 vs the A320 at 15:30.
A few questions:
1) I see the SYD-AKL is on the 763, while the other two are on smaller A320s. Is the dinner service any different between aircraft on the three routes? Also, how about meal service on AKL-MEL on the afternoon A320 vs. the morning 772? Will I be missing out much by taking the afternoon flight? I realize it's a short trip--so not a big deal; I just like to know my choices ahead of time. :)
2) From looking at Seatguru, the 772 are amazing, while the 763 have decent enough pitch, but I'm guessing (it's not listed on Seatguru) the A320s are much tighter. True?
3) Finally, OT, which city would you visit for a short trip? It'd be a quick intro to NZ, with more to come in the future.
Thanks!

1) For flights with similar departure times the meal service is the same. Meal on afternoon flight from Oz will be dinner vs lunch on morning flight from Oz. Not a lot of difference.

2) Yes, but I still find A320 fine. In A320 business class you also get personal DVDs with a library of about 20 to choose from. In 763 only 8 video channels (non AVOD) and in 777 full AVOD with hundreds of options.

3) What time of year? Some places are great summer destinations, others better in winter. Also what interests you? Culture? Scenery? Adventure stuff? Sports?

1) For flights with similar departure times the meal service is the same. Meal on afternoon flight from Oz will be dinner vs lunch on morning flight from Oz. Not a lot of difference.

2) Yes, but I still find A320 fine. In A320 business class you also get personal DVDs with a library of about 20 to choose from. In 763 only 8 video channels (non AVOD) and in 777 full AVOD with hundreds of options.

3) What time of year? Some places are great summer destinations, others better in winter. Also what interests you? Culture? Scenery? Adventure stuff? Sports?

Thanks for the quick reply!
For #3) I will have only about 3-4 nights in July, and I found NZ award flights in J on all three routes... I will be there midweek, so even night life will likely be limited, I'd guess? I'm more of a city person, though Car Hire day trips are fun.
For #2) It's good to know that J Class on the A320s has DVDs. I might choose based on flight times, then, and skip such an early departure AKL-MEL, though it'd be nice to try out the 777 for once.

There'll be skiing near Christchurch and Queenstown if you're into that. I'd skip Wellington - mid-winter can be nasty (wet and very windy). North Island is warmer, but coming from MSP you should be used to the cold.

For #3) I will have only about 3-4 nights in July, and I found NZ award flights in J on all three routes... I will be there midweek, so even night life will likely be limited, I'd guess? I'm more of a city person, though Car Hire day trips are fun...I'm partial to WLG and CHC... they're compact and user-friendly enough to be a joy—and quite a contrast to SYD, where you'll be coming from—while still having a 'city' feel to them...

...as for day trips, if you are into wine, from WLG it's quite easy to drive over to the Martinborough valley for a visit to wineries and the like. Or you could take a quick day flight to Blenheim (in the South Island) for the Marlborough wine country.

If you aren't, then some of the excursions from CHC can be quite fun: a visit to Lyttelton and the Banks Peninsula, or a day in the Canterbury plains with a hot air balloon ride, or a train ride on the TranzAlpine train via Arthur's Pass...

I'll let the locals chime in on the weather likely to be encountered in July... FWIW, of the three places, WLG is the most bad-weather friendly, IMHO ;)