Texas Longhorn Wagon Tours by Maria Caesar

     As I waited for my order to be filled at a local cafe I noticed an advertisement. Upon the glossy poster was the image of a large beast with horns that stretched incredibly far on either side of its head, and an invitation to see the animal up close via a wagon tour. I gaped at this newfound knowledge. At the base of the poster was a website address. By the time my sandwich had been sliced and wrapped I decided to alter my lunch plans and dine in. I sat at a nearby table and munched on my sandwich whilst surfing the internet via my iPhone.

      I was surprised to discover that there was no need to travel abroad to see the Steer with the Guiness World Record for the longest horns in the world; he could be found at Leahton Park, just 10 kilometres from Charters Towers!  Leahton Park was also home for the largest herd of purebred Texas Longhorns in Australia. These animals were practically living on my doorstep (a slight exaggeration) and I didn’t even know it.  I delved deeper into the contents on the website, chewing my sandwich absentmindedly.

      Apparently, from April to October you can climb aboard for a 1-hour Wagon Tour to view the Texas Longhorn herd along with a buffalo herd and other wildlife. ‘Before the tour, you can enjoy a traditional Aussie smoko including camp oven cooked damper or scones and billy tea plus some Texas chocolate brownies served from a genuine ‘made in Texas’ Cowboy Chuck Wagon.’ Despite being midway through my sandwich my tummy rumbled at the details of the tour menu. I glanced at the cakes and slices on offer by the cafe counter before resuming.

‘Guests of all ages can ride on a western-covered wagon drawn by Woodrow and Gus (Awwwhhh!), two magnificent Percheron draft horses. The wagon and harness were made at Leahton Park and while visiting you can take a guided tour of the Bethel Saddlery Custom Saddle Shop.’

     I paused to check the calendar on my iPhone. But what if the April to October time frame didn’t suit me? Scrolling down the website screen provided my answer: the Texas Longhorn Safari was available all year. ‘On this tour guests can ride on an all-terrain 8-seater Polaris Ranger for a whole new perspective.’  Whichever way you go, a visit to see the Texas Longhorns at Leahton Park was guaranteed to be a truly memorable experience.

     I took note of the contact number listed on the screen before exiting the website. Some relatives from down south would be visiting the Towers for the first time later in the year and this tour was something the entire family could enjoy.  By the time the last crumb of my sandwich had been eaten I had contacted the station and made a booking.