Hi I am also planning RTW this year. I am going as far as Japan with tour company then going my own way.

Anyway to help with your plans I backpacked Australia and New Zeland 10 years ago.
I do not know what you are looking for, yes south Australia has Mediterainian climate but is not the Med. The point is you will see wildlife and things you will not see anywhere else in the world i.e. The great Barrier Reef dive with sharks see the reef. The outback is something else.
I understand why you think you can miss Ausrtalia.
New Zeland is like Scotland where I come from but its about the adventue and the people as well as the scenery I loved it all.

Cheers and good luck
George:thumbup1:

Here's my map that's been in beta for the past 2 years. My expected departure date is August 2011.

It's got a lot of placemarks that may give you some ideas.

Trip v1.1 - Google Maps

Rtw
 

Man I'm tired just thinking about what your going to go through getting ready. I might see you along the way in Europe or the Stans in may/june.
Australia's outback center is a lot of miles (Kms) of the same thing but when you get to someplace different it's really different and it won't tale long to see everything at each place that's different. The Aussies are great no matter where you are.
Good luck to you. Plan for the worst and stay flexible no matter what your route turns into.

nomadb: Yes, i'll make a short (+/-10 days) extension in Turkey. The problem with Georgia is that the border with Russia is closed, unfortunately. And I don't want to miss Romania and Ukraine. However, I promise a tour through Izmir, antalya, mersin, adana, ankara, and back to Istambul. Mongolia... I wish I could, actually my first version of the trip was through Mongolia and down to China, but I was discouraged by the prizes for the China leg.

georgethejock: What I'm looking for is adventure, discovering new ways of undestanding life. Inspiration and fun. Weird foods, smells, and human landscapes. Australia looks (from the distance) too similar to Europe. However, I think I'm going to give it a shot, I think. BTW, check out Motorcycle Rentals Japan - Japan Bike Rentals , they do a wonderful service indeed.

Rockwell: thanks for sharing your map. How do you plan to manage the China leg? And Afganistan?!??!

Kestrel_KLR: Feel free to contact me, we might do a part of the route together. I'm going to expand a bit the Europe part.

Thanks to all. The first important part of the journey has been acomplished: I've officially quit my job ;) On February 28th I'll begin planning the trip full time.

Whoooow :funmeteryes:

My route should go through Pakistan, not Afghanistan; although I was reading a ride report on advrider.com of two guys riding through Afghanistan. They seemed to have no problems, although I don't think I will brave that country (since our Canadian military is in that country).

Burma and mainland China are two big question marks on my route (that's why it's still in beta). I have been researching quite a bit trying to get more info about travel through there. The general consensus is that it's not really possible, but I have also read otherwise. Check out the thread I started on it here:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...gh-burma-47949

Sweet, dude. Unfortunately, I cannot quit my job just yet. I have 18 months until my planned departure date; and still have quite a bit of saving to do.