Yeah, I'm probably coming at it from a different perspective :) It doesn't cost me anything to visit (after my yearly fee) and I can sit and have a coffee while the kids run around and look at stuff. Also all my babies have adored the tanks of fish. They lie there for hours staring at them so it is a good morning out for us. But no, I probably wouldn't pay a single entry fee to get in just once.:
The Eumundi Markets on the Sunshine Coast are really good with lots of yummy food and they were my fave in SEQ. While you're in that area, Noosa, Mooloolaba and Coolum are lovely beaches to visit too.
Australia Zoo is lots of fun and the kids would probably love that
For something different other than heading to Surfers - O'Reilly in the Gold Coast Hinterland is a really pretty drive and also Mt Tamborine near Canungra is pretty. It has Markets too. Not too sure how often they run though.
If you're OK with going off the highway a bit - Fraser Island is really picturesque for camping (but you definitely need a 4WD for the sand and track driving!)
Lots of sights a lot further up north too but you will be close to them when you live there.
Sounds like a lot of fun!! :D