My goal - Buy land in Ecuador and live there for 4 months per yr

I am not familiar with the visa requirements for Oz but contact your local office of the Ecuador Consulate to double check.  For folks from the USA we have a 90 visitors visa upon entry.

In addition when you invest in property in Ecuador in an amount over $25,000 (USD) it is possible to get residency along with that investment.

Again, double check that this also applies to you folks -- but I am pretty sure it does.  And of course a local attorney (abogado) will be able to assist you further.

muchas gracias!
yes, an attorney should have all my answers.
thats great news about the residency visa if it does apply to us..

Having a property you can live in for four months a year sounds like a great idea. I know if you are out of the country (Australia) for more than 6 months and you have income earned in Australia it is taxed at the maximum rate as you are considered a non resident. My understandinding is you can apply for citizenship in Equador if you have a certain amount (I thought it was 50,000 usd, but the other writer may be correct) and they will ask you to renounce your Au citizenship, this it a token gesture only and you lose no legal entitlement in doing so. Thats just what I've read. Anyway, sounds like a party at your place in Equador in a few months :-)

Try contacting the Secret Garden in Quito about thier lawyer.  It's owned by an Aussie and an Ecuadorian..

savvyroundtheworld.wordpress.com