Should we rent a car for separate Gold Coast and Australia Zoo day trips from Brisbane?

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.

Add parking, tolls and rental pickup time to the car cost; add the last return connection to the public-transport plan. The cheapest option on paper may use much more of the day.

Compare each trip separately: the Gold Coast can suit rail and local transport, while the zoo's door-to-door journey may make a car or tour more convenient.