From Siberia to a historic 26,000km drive: meet Australia's ultimate adventure couple

Australia’s ultimate adventure couple theme comes through as Lang and Bev Kidby receive the Australian Geographic Society’s 2026 Lifetime of Adventure Award for decades of travel, largely enabled by GPS. Both 79, the couple have taken trips to nearly 80 countries and credits their 60-year partnership to humor, trust, and persistence. The recognition follows their 2024 expedition recreating Francis Birtles’ 26,000km England-to-Australia drive in a restored Bean 14. In 1927, Birtles completed the journey from London to Melbourne in nine months. The pair also navigated a crisis on an Egyptian airfield when Saudi officials canceled airspace clearance, ultimately securing help via King-to-king calls. The award highlights how, they say, teamwork reduces risk even during tense border crossings.