Trangie

About 74km north-west of Dubbo in NSW's central west, Trangie is in the middle of the Burrendong Dam irrigation area - courtesy of the Macquarie River - where cotton has taken over from more traditional grains and grasses as the major crop. If you're up this way, whatever you do don't miss The Western Plains Zoo on the outskirts of Dubbo. This marvellous, open-range zoo is home to animals from five continents, including many endangered species, the nurturing of which has made the zoo world famous. You can drive your car through the zoo and even hire electric carts and, wait for it, bicycles, reserved according to the signs, for Poms. Another 'must' up this way is to take a cruise on the Macquarie River. As the locals suggest, just lie back and enjoy as the riverboat, shaded by an avenue of ancient red gums, threads its way through picturesque countryside. They also reckon that if you dangle a line in this stretch of the river there is every chance you'll hook a Murray cod.