Need sugesstion for 3 weeks nz + fiji

[sparkzone]

Leaving dec 12 and spend about a week in MEL visiting family before we start our vacation dec 18/19 and back to usa jan 10 through syd.
we travelled through mel, syd and cns before so now we thinking we hit nz

Since we will be in MEL, we try to fly direct to NZ queenstown? and work our way up? better drive or fly? 2 adults and 2 kids age 6/7

Since its summer time, you think we should squeeze in trip to fiji or one of those small islands

have decent hilton hhonor points, spg and 2 free hyatt nite to cover as well

With ft breadth of experiences, I am sure yall can help us make it a memorable trip.

[MightyTravels]

Yasawa islands of Fiji are stunning. You can plan easy day trips by catamaran from Denarau pier. It's worth to block 1-2 nights for staying at the islands overnight. But there are no chain hotels so you'll need to pay cash. Mosh options are rather basic and cheap though.

[sparkzone]

since we plan to work our way up from queenstown all the way to aukland, is it advisable to fly direct from auckland to fiji in Dec? from fiji can we hop to other islands? its gonna be four of us so probably expensive

[MightyTravels]

We flew Air Pacific AKL-NAN-LAX which included a free stopover. Day trips are very reasonable and kids were free/ half price.

[sparkzone]

My itin is lax-syd-lax , so thinking spending few days in Gold Coast and Sydney before heading back

dec 12- dec19 MEL
dec 20- dec30 in nz
dec31-jan 4 in fiji+surrounding islands?
jan 5-jan 8 Gold coast
jan9-jan 10 Syd