ABOUT US
AS THEY SAY: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE and WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT
ONCE IS ENOUGH
16 years on the road and still going
We are a Dutch couple who have been dreaming about travelling the world in an off-road vehicle. In the 37 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 2019 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,Brasil, Uruguay, French Guyana, Guyana,Suriname Peru, Equador, Galapagos Islands and Colombia. In fact except of Paraquay & Venuzuela we covered every country in South America. Currently (Nov 2020) in Mexico ready to explore Central America for the next 2 years.
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 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.