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Take a midday bus to Mali Losinj and get off on Krk. Earlier option would be bus to Cres via Brestova.
A few days in Rovinj then on to Opatija before going towards Zadar, Not sure about the ferry, the bus might be the better choice. Do not miss Plitvice lakes!
We stay near Opatija to avail of the Rijeka/Opatija bus service, it is easy to visit most towns in Istria from here.
If you take the bus from Rijeka, you will have to change at Karlovac