There is one other good option if you are willing to go via HNL, and that is to go via Fiji instead on Air Pacific (FJ). They sell very cheap J fares ex-NAN, so you would have to buy 1-way ticket to NAN for positioning, and then buy NAN-LAX-NAN and NAN-SYD-NAN tickets separately. Their J is more like PE on QF and priced similarly, but earns J status credits on QFF (can also earn on AA, AS and some other airlines) and FJ has pretty good food. Just no beds, but very comfy seats and the sectors from NAN are somewhat shorter. Not a bad option (just avoid their fares ex-LAX or ex-Oz, you have to get Fiji origin fares, they are less than half the price).