I am looking for some help, advice, ideas, previously used itineries etc for a 4 month trip I wish to organise with my hubby and son (who will be 12 then). We will be immigrating back from the U.K. to Australia and have a wonderful gap in my son's education that we wish to take advantage of.
We want to backpack around South and North America and Canada from the end July 2010 to early/mid December 2010. Our budget will be super tight but we should have enough money not to limit sights or experiences. Any input at this stage would be greatly appreciated.

This is just a general suggestion to get you started:

Start in Canada
Quebec - beautiful old city with very heavy French influence
Montreal
Toronto
Vancouver
Canadian Rockies

Cross the border to US:
Northwest area
California
The Rockies
Chicago
New York
Florida for little beach relaxation

If you want to skip central America then Peru should be your next stop.

Cuzco
Inka trails
Machu Picchu
Nasca lines in the south

Brazil
Amazon river
Rio

Argentina
Buenos Aires
Wine country
Andes Mountains

Chile
Easter Island

It's possible to fly to Tahiti from Easter Island on LAN Chile, where I'm sure you can connect to Australia.

Good luck with your planning and have a wonderful trip!

Hi AussieLass,

When you say you intend to backpack, how to you intend to travel? Car? I hope so, because you will definitely need one.

not really

Canada - train
US - train
South America - planes

local car rentals where needed

also public transportation


Canada transcon train ride is an adventure in itself as is doing the Amtrak in US

For 3 people I think you wil find long-term car rental to be cheaper than trains in the US - never mind how many places trains don;t go at all- or once a day - but hours late.

US train travel between DC and Bostonis fine- other than that an exercise in futility - esp for people who are backpacking and will want to stay outside of cities a lot.