Kez Arden

Keep one flexible half-day for rain or heat rather than buying three fixed outdoor tours.

Compare the full airport-to-city-and-back travel time with the hours you will actually have for dinner and a walk.

Allow for the event to finish later than expected and select a restaurant that can handle a flexible reservation time.

Pick one waterfront or local activity first, then contact a few nearby kitchens about their current gluten-free menu.

Check the current passenger and vehicle ferry products; arriving on foot does not by itself provide transport across the island.

Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Pick the island whose accessible beaches and walks you would enjoy even without an animal encounter.

Keep enough time for the return from the gardens or summit, where service frequency may differ from central Brisbane.

Check the passenger ferry, island bus and return connections as one itinerary. Five hours can work for one area, but not for a circuit of the whole island.

Allow time for lunch, parking and the return drive to Brisbane. If you want to stroll several coastal towns, stay overnight in that region instead of making a very long day.

Choose a base near groceries, a park and easy transport, then plan one major outing per day. South Bank and riverside walks can be shortened when the children need a rest.

If you rent only for the zoo day, you can keep the Brisbane stay car-free. Check the attraction's current hours and the route before fixing the booking.

List your island accommodation, ferry terminal and intended beaches. A car adds flexibility, but a vehicle ferry needs its own booking and cost.