Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Samoa, Rarotonga, Cairns, Whangarei, or Noumea and diving

I will be arriving into Australia for about 7 days in Feb. I would like to visit a friend in Auckland for a day and looking at the NZ awards head off to a island for a few days of diving including with this great USD exchange rate....

I know I don't have much time, but this was a MR which turned into a mini diving vacation

I have a few options -
1. Just go again to Cairns and dive on the liveaboard I did 2x already. It was very nice both times and really enjoyed it and recommend it.
2. Go to Whangarei (WRE) and dive Poor Knights Islands. That should be also good for a stopover in AKL to see a friend.
3. Go to Samoa (APW). Dive there. Not sure where to stay. I'm on a budget but then again like my 5* accommodations. Looks like diving would run about 350USD for 8 tanks or so.
4. Go to Rarotonga (RAR). Same as #3 plans.
5. Go to Noumea (NOU) Same as #3 plans, but since the cost is in euros, it might be a but more expensive. But there seems to be SPG there.....


Where would you go?

If you're already ticketed to Australia (rather than AKL) then going to the islands will take up quite a bit of your time (some islands more so than others) especially if you factor in for misconnection risk on separate tickets.

February in Cairns is not very pleasant - very hot and wet with risk of cyclones. Weather in NZ should be good and warm enough.

Thanks
I am looking at Whangarei but it looks like I need to buy a ticket from Auckland to Whangarei as there are no awards open.
Brisbane also should be nice during this time.

Other islands just wont work with the time constraints.

For travel within about a month, yeah not surprised about lack of awards. Remember all one class and the a/c used is rather small (Beech 1900D has 19 seats).

Alternatively drive or bus - it is only a few hours away (over 1 hill).

Thanks
Right now its between Brisbane or Whangarei
I don't think I'll drive. A bit skeptical of my skills on the left side driving...

Thanks
Right now its between Brisbane or Whangarei
I don't think I'll drive. A bit skeptical of my skills on the left side driving...

Cant be that bad as long as you avoid downtown auckland as a driveing activity.