Follow our 48-hour itinerary.

Head south-west along Stirling Highway or Canning Highway and you'll hit the port city of Fremantle in about half an hour, and, once there, act like a local and do bog laps of South Terrace to check out all the people seated al fresco in the many pubs, cafés and restaurants. At the top of South Terrace are the Fremantle Markets, open Friday to Sunday and public holiday Mondays, with stalls of local arts and crafts down one end and purveyors of fresh produce down the other. Have a crepe for me at Michele's Crepe Suzette. Micro-breweries are very du jour, and the Sail and Anchor and Mad Monk, both on South Terrace join the malt and hops corps, along with the more famous Little Creatures: a pumping joint with rustic food, funky staff, and an interesting view from the gents'. It's down on Fishing Boat Harbour where you may also like to get your fish and chips fix at one of the many other eateries before an evening catamaran sail along the coast to witness the spectacular show that is a West Aussie sunset.

On the museum front, there's Fremantle Prison, decommissioned in 1991 after the 1988 riots; there's the original gaol, the 170-year old sandstone Roundhouse; and there's the Maritime Museum, home to Australia II and last resting place of Ovens, the Oberon-class submarine.

Finally, get some kulcha at Kulcha, see who's playing at Fly by Night or Mojo's, and check out what's going on at the Freo Arts Centre.

Catch the ferry over to the rat's nest, or rotte nest to the early Dutch explorers. Actually, they're quokkas, not rats, and they cover this little island, just 11 kilometres long. Rottnest Island makes for an easy daytrip or days-trip with time spent swimming, snorkelling, scuba-diving or surfing. You'll notice the absence of motorised transport aside from the sightseeing Bayseeker bus, so hire a bicycle or get shoes that are made for walking. It's a fun and relaxing escapade, sealed off with drink at the Quokka Arms.

Catch the new train down to Mandurah, a 50-minute trip, and have fish and chips or a crab feast on the waterfront. Mandurah Ocean Marina has specialty stalls, shops, art galleries, restaurants, and, on Saturdays, a farmer's market. If you want to get airborne, take a flight along the coast, go parachuting or parasailing. The Mandurah Crab Fest is held in March — a sumptuous weekend of eating and drinking, firework gazing, concert going and street parade watching.

Go east, young man! Take a drive through the Avon Valley and at 99 clicks on the speedo you'll hit something straight out of the 19th century — the little town of York. A walk along the main street, Avon Terrace, will have you admiring the grandeur of the architecture of yesteryear; and a highlight for your Top Gear types is the fleet of veteran, vintage, classic and racing cars at the York Motor Museum. As the wildflowers are blooming, York gets jamming for the Jazz and Soul Festival, held mid-October and featuring international and national cats across seven stages.