A good question.
A local answer.

A car is useful for selected hinterland or coastal outings but unnecessary for every city day. Compare tour and transport options before renting for the whole week.

Compare the airport's minimum connection guidance with your scheduled time and ask the airline what happens if the inbound flight is late. Keep the booking reference handy.

Compare the current koala program, age limits, duration and total family price on each venue's official site. Encounter formats and welfare rules can change.

Allow the airline's recommended international-airport arrival margin, plus extra time if documents need checking. The counter arrangement can change by flight.

Ask the hotel first whether it can hold bags before check-in. If not, compare staffed storage locations by opening hours, insurance terms and pickup deadline.

Look at the actual drive, walking grades and seasonal weather for each area. A place that feels close on a map may have a slow mountain approach.

If a hotel advertises a shuttle, confirm its hours, price, booking requirement and terminal pickup point before choosing the room.

Check the exact hotel's walk to the station and the places you will visit. The suburb has varied streets; its name does not tell you the slope at your address.

Pick one museum or exhibition and one riverside or garden walk each day, with lunch between them. Check current programs rather than repeating an old attraction list.

Plan one short outing at a time, with a comfortable place to sit. Check taxi drop-off and weather cover before booking a riverfront view.

Choose the final night near the departure route and allow traffic margin. A simpler plan often feels better during a longer multi-city holiday.

If Australia Zoo is the priority, keep that as the full second day and book a nearby dinner afterward. Check tour return times before committing.