I'm going to pay to join either Koru or The Lounge (Virgin) but can't make up my mind.

I'm going to pay to join either Koru or The Lounge (Virgin) but can't make up my mind. Any thoughts. I almost exclusively fly QF domestically, but I have a month or 2 of multiple trips across the ditch. I have no status with VA or NZ, but Plat with QF.

Have you thought about contacting VA or NZ about doing a status match (or at least ask for Pilot Gold if contacting VA), especially if you can demonstrate some forward bookings on VA/NZ. If you work for a company with a decent amount of air spend, you might get somewhere if you ask for the corporate sales department?

Failing that, if you travel more within Australia, VA is probably the better option in case you end up on a VA domestic flight at some point.

I agree with apacau RE: VA Pilot Gold.

VA should give you a status challenge of 80SC within 3 months, then they'll grant you 'full' gold, but I think you'll still be able to access the VA (and partner lounges in international terminals) with the Pilot Gold.

Koru membership entitles you to the Virgin lounge if flying Virgin domestically in Australia. I have never had any trouble accessing the lounge this way.

If you'll be flying primarily with NZ (rather than VA) you could try a status match to Turkish Airlines which would get you NZ lounge access.

I would join Koru. You can do priority check-in, you get increased baggage allowance, priority boarding, priority baggage whether you're flying Virgin or Air NZ. This includes Virgin domestic flights in Australia. I don't think Virgin lounge membership gives you all that.

If you join Koru you also (over time) have a pathway to Star Alliance Gold - this in my opinion is more useful than Virgin status outside Australia and NZ. 

Thanks everyone for the answers.  I think the Star Alliance Gold is the biggest lure for me.  So looks like Koru.