We did something similar and we bought tickets for LAX-(SYD)-MEL, MEL-SYD(stop over)-SFO-LAX. We then broke up the time in SYD into 2 nights in WLG, 1 night in AKL, and 3 nights in CNS, back into SYD for 1 night, and then had home.

We flew NZ for SYD-WLG-AKL-CNS, with AKL-CNS on their Boeing 744, which had 34 in of pitch throughout their econ. cabin, and AVOD as well. We then flew Virgin Blue (DJ) CNS-SYD.