OK Balmain, I see where you are coming from. I won't try and talk you into a Prado, however they are actually a very good second tier 4WD, still miles above the ute based 4WD's, even though they are looked upon as a mum's taxi (which often means they have been looked after)
The ute based 4WD's are the next rung down with 4wd capability but are much more fuel efficient and handy in their own ways.
When you get your Patrol try and go on some trips with clubs to learn off-road driving skills before you go away. There are dedicated clubs you may need to join and pay fees, or there are various facebook clubs, or there is 4x4earth.com, or 4WDtrip.com where you can meet up with locals to go out with and gain skills.
It's a different set of skills you use. You'll need to understand the flex your vehicle has, how deep ruts you can negotiate, and simple things like straddle the ruts in the dry, but don't even attempt when wet and greasy. If you plan on deep water crossings you'll need a snorkel and diff/gearbox/trans case breathers fitted.
Also sounds like a cargo barrier would be the ticket for you too mate, considering the amount you'll carry. Which leads me to GVM, (gross vehicle mass) You need to keep the total weight under the GVM on your compliance plate. You can get GVM upgrades to most vehicles, though, so it's a great idea to understand what you are carrying and how much it all weighs. A good way to check, is a lot of tips have a weigh bridge on the entry, so you can see what your gross weight is. Remember the more weight you carry it lowers your vehicle and makes it less nimble and effective at doing what it was designed for, so try not to carry too much crap.
Do you plan to tent camp when travelling?
Perhaps a roof top tent? They are great, BUT wreck the fuel economy due to the drag, and the extra weight up very high can be a worry when doing extreme tracks with a high camber.
The advantage is all your bedding is up there too, saving space in the vehicle, fairly quick set up as well, but if you are a bit of a pisshead, getting up the ladder at night can cause a few injuries (yes I have witnessed people doing that, climbing up ladders tanked isn't a great idea).
