Based on your plans, Taronga is a poor option that will take a lot more time than Australia Zoo where you can marvel at Forest: the tallest giraffe in the world! Taronga was great when I went 25yrs ago but much less so last year. If you're researching where you might live, a trip up and down the river from New Farm in Brisbane would be better than spending time on the water in Sydney. You could use that saved time going to Whale/Palm Beach and the lighthouse, on your way North, as suggested.
If you're not going to consider living in Sunshine then ignore Caloundra, go to Noosa, go directly to Noosa: Sunshine Beach, do not collect $200!