ABOUT US
AS THEY SAY: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE and WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT
ONCE IS ENOUGH
20 years on the road (2024) and still going
We are a Dutch couple who have been dreaming about travelling the world in an off-road vehicle. In the 40 years since we moved to Australia, we have travelled approximately 300,000km throughout Australia between 1982 and 2009. The last 140,000km has been in the period 2004 to 2009. We enjoy the deserts, remote places, beautiful scenery, bush camping and camp fires. After many nights discussing the possibility of an around the world trip, we made the decision to semi retire and then start travelling around the world. Between 2009 and April 2023 we covered 343000 Km crossing Africa (East and West), Europe to Mongolia (via Russia), Mongolia to Singapore covering China, Tibet and South East Asia, the sub- continent India–Nepal–Pakistan–Iran and the Middle East. In 2016 we shipped to South America and to-date we covered Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay, French Guyana, Guyana, Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos Islands and Colombia. In fact except of Paraguay & Venezuela we covered every country in South America. 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 explored the Central USA, Route 66 and returned to Northern Mexico before working our way towards Key West in Florida. At present our vehicle is in Defuniak Springs, Florida. in 2025 we continue North exploring more of Central USA and the Eastern part of the USA before entering Canada. Canada is the last country part of our overland around the world adventure. The initial plan of 5 years to travel the world is now in year 21 and all going well another 3 years before we arrive in Alaska.
Robert Van den Hoven
Born 24.6.55 in Arnhem, Holland. Robert has lived in Holland, the Caribbean and Australia. He was a Royal Dutch Marine from 1974 to 1977. Then in 1977 he married Clary Lingeman. Robert and Clary moved to Australia in 1981. They lived in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and for the past twenty nine years they have lived just north of Cairns, in the small village of Palm Cove in Northern Australia. Robert has been involved in the hospitality industry most of his life. He has held executive positions with Nestle, Sara Lee and Sinclair Halvorsen, before becoming self-employed and involved in food manufacturing, wholesale, import and export. For 20 years he and his wife Clary owned Apres Beach Bar & Grill in Palm Cove on the beach overlooking the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical Northern Australia. (Business was sold early 2018) Robert’s hobbies include: Travelling, bush camping, swimming and music.
Clary Van Den Hoven
Born 28.10.56 in Dieren, Holland. Clary has lived in Holland and Australia. Clary worked in Holland as a teacher until migrating to Australia with husband Robert in 1981. Due to the numerous job transfers with Robert, Clary worked many jobs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. While Robert was involved in his own business in import/export, Clary purchased her own business, the Apres Beach Bar & Grill in Palm Cove, North Queensland. Robert then sold his own business and then spent his time assisting Clary with her business in Palm Cove. Clary’s hobbies include: Travelling, bush camping, swimming, reading and gardening.
In the Media
Robert and Clary’s story – Cairns Post 2016