American has similar (or the same) fares from Melbourne (ours, not Australia's) to Auckland, NZ in August.  

It seems a blip, not matched by other airlines.  

The west (Tasman) coast has surf all year.  August is getting toward late winter, so expect cold water and the possibility of VAS wind on the west (Tasman) coast.

The air fare is half what you'd find in December-January, the austral summer.  

From MCO, even Perth (home of Margaret River etc.) is around $1400, really good for possibly the farthest large airport on Earth.