JNelson13 - hope it works out for you all. I think your problem is timing. Reading your post it seems like you want the award out Mid December and do not mention the return date. Just keep in mind mid December to early to mid Janaury is absolute HIGH season for flights to and from Australia to ANYWHERE. NZ is much the same story.

The entire country closes down basically. Like France in August etc. All schoolchildren are on vacation, and nearly all business has closed down. So, flights on all airlines are 100% full with revenue pax, and QF are loath to shake out too many reward tickets.