ABOUT US

AS THEY SAY: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE and WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT

ONCE IS ENOUGH

22 years on the road (2026) and still going

We are a Dutch couple who moved to Australia 45 years ago and have been dreaming of traveling the world in an off-road vehicle. Between 1982 and 2009, we covered approximately 300,000 km throughout Australia, with the last 140,000 km covered between 2004 and 2009. We love the deserts, remote places, beautiful scenery, bush camping, and campfires. After many years of discussing the possibility of a world trip, we decided to semi-retire and start our global journey.

Between 2009 and April 2023, we traveled 343,000 km, crossing Africa (East and West), Europe to Mongolia (via Russia), Mongolia to Singapore covering China, Tibet and South East Asia. and the sub-continent India–Nepal–Pakistan–Iran and the Middle East. In 2016, we shipped our vehicle to South America and, to date, have covered Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, French Guyana, Guyana, Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands and Colombia. We’ve covered every country in South America except Paraguay and Venezuela.

In 2020, we shipped from Colombia to Central America. In 2023, we entered the United States from Mexico and explored the Western USA In 2024, we continued our journey through the Central USA, Route 66 and returned to Northern Mexico before heading towards Key West in Florida. Currently, our vehicle is in Defuniak Springs, Florida

In 2025, we explored more of Central USA and Eastern USA before heading into Canada, Driving from East to West Canada, leaving our vehicle on Vancouver island.

February 2026, we’ll set our sights north from Vancouver Island, bound for Alaska and the remote expanses of Northern Canada, before returning to Australia for another around Australia journey. What started as a simple five-year plan has grown into 22 years of life on the road, a life on the road that has taken us through 144 countries. 2026 will mark our final year, closing an epic chapter of of an extraordinary drive around the world.

Robert Van den Hoven

Born on June 24, 1955, in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Robert has lived in Holland, the Caribbean, and Australia. From 1974 to 1977, he served as a Royal Dutch Marine, based in South America. In 1977, he married Clary Lingeman, and in 1981 the couple relocated to Australia.

Since moving to Australia, Robert and Clary have lived in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and for the past 38 years in the small boutique tourist village of Palm Cove, just north of Cairns. Robert has spent most of his working life self-employed in the hospitality industry. After arriving in Australia, he initially held executive positions with Nestlé, Sara Lee, and Sinclair Halvorsen, before becoming self-employed and working across food manufacturing, wholesale, import, and export, as well as owning and operating two bars and restaurants.

For 20 years, Robert and Clary owned and operated Après Beach Bar & Grill in Palm Cove, which they sold in early 2018. Robert’s interests include traveling, bush camping, swimming, and music.

Together, they made significant contributions to the local hospitality scene in Far North Queensland and were actively involved in numerous volunteer roles and community events.

Clary Van Den Hoven

Profile Picture Clary

Clary was born on October 28, 1956, in Dieren, the Netherlands. She lived and worked in both Holland and Australia, beginning her professional life as a teacher in the Netherlands. In 1981, she migrated to Australia with her husband, Robert.

Due to Robert’s frequent interstate moves, Clary held a variety of roles across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. While Robert built his career in the import/export, hospitality, and wholesale industries, Clary later pursued her own entrepreneurial path, purchasing and opening the Après Beach Bar & Grill in Palm Cove, North Queensland.

After Robert sold his other business interests, he focused his efforts on supporting Clary in the operation of Après Beach Bar & Grill in Cairns and Palm Cove. Together, they contributed to the local hospitality scene in Far North Queensland.

Clary enjoys traveling, bush camping, swimming, reading, and gardening, and values an active, outdoor lifestyle.