I bet when you were planning your trip in Aus, you weren’t planning seeing a magnificent herd of Texas Longhorns, right?
We all know everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas, especially when it comes to cattle? Maybe not so much anymore, thanks to Mick and Lynda Bethel of Leahton Park Ranch in Charters Towers, Queensland.
They’re aiming to become the biggest and the best experience of its kind and have won that accolade on two accounts.
Firstly, they’ve got the biggest herd of Texas Longhorns in Australia and have a breeding program to help other Australian farmers interested in raising historic Texas Longhorns.
Secondly, Mick and Lynda also have J. R, a long-horned steer who was the former Guinness World Record Holder in 2013 for having the biggest longhorns in the world, measuring 2.82 metres, or 111 inches tip to tip.
The Texans slipped on in there the next year to knock J. R from first place, but the good news is, J. R is young, so we reckon he’ll reclaim his place soon enough.
If you’re reading to embark on the journey of a life time, this is what to expect on the Original Longhorn Safari in Charter Towers, QLD.
Our Texas Longhorn Charter Towers Tour
The Texas Longhorn wagon tour at Leahton Park, Charters Towers is a unique Queensland outback experience about two hours west of Townsville.
You feel as if you have almost stepped into a western movie. There’s a slight drawl to Mick when he first introduces himself. His Texas hat and hand pistol accentuating the stories of the Old West he regales you with.
Some possibly as long as J. R horns, but entertaining nonetheless.
We were fascinated with their story and how they’ve created such an interesting and unique way of farming cattle in Australia AND creating a tourist experience around it.
The Bethels are a lovely family and clearly passionate about what they do.
We arrived at 9:30am to start our Covered Wagon tour and stay the night on this Queensland outback farm.
Traditional Aussie Smoko
One of my favourite feature of our North Queensland tour experiences have been eating damper and drinking billy tea around a fire.
It’s one of the few things I’ll break my no gluten rule for!
After a morning tea, it was time to start the Longhorn Wagon Tour. After, you’ll sit down to camp oven cooked damper/scones and billy tea plus Texas chocolate Brownies served from a genuine Texas Cowboy Chuck Wagon.
