A good question.
A local answer.

Check return services and daylight before committing to long walks. Some regional sights are much easier as an organised day tour.

Choose by weather and walking ability: Rottnest offers a flexible island day, while the Pinnacles involves more driving and exposed ground. Keep the longest regional destinations for an overnight trip.

If the margin is tight, choose a pleasant airport-area meal instead of spending most of the evening in traffic. Keep passports and essentials with you.

Look for a sheltered, supervised area suited to your swimming ability and enter with a companion. Ask a local dive shop about that day's visibility and conditions.

Keep a short list of legal backup parks along each day's route and call before you drive there. A flexible itinerary still needs a dependable place to sleep.

Set a backup pickup or walking plan and allow extra time for crowds and security. A prebooked rideshare may still be affected by road closures.

Either base can work; compare the ferry departure you prefer and the trip to the airport from the exact accommodation. Avoid changing hotels for only four nights unless it clearly saves time.

Map the exact hotel to a station, dinner options and the activities on your shortlist. A suburb name alone says little about daily walking convenience.

Check whether your airline would carry your own stroller at no extra cost; that may be easier than arranging pickup and return. A standard stroller can also be easier on ferries and buses than a wagon.

Compare a visitor's short-trip needs with SmartRider and ticket options on the official fare page. Buying a card only makes sense if the use justifies it.

Use appropriate repellent and keep food covered at picnic stops. A breezy beach and an inland still day can feel very different.

Book a return taxi or driver in advance if you have a fixed evening plan. Ask the winery for its exact pickup point and closing time.