Thanks for the helpful information everyone. Regarding the timing of my flight, it should be mid 2015, so I am planning way ahead in advance in order to get a miles seat if possible. I haven't tried CX's first and I am dying to actually, but like everyone mentioned, they don't fly F to oz...yet!

JAL seems like a nice option if they decide to send F to oz and continue doing so.

I am leaning towards QF first going out and returning through JAL and CX with the stops... that way I get to try all three F products.