If you hold an australian passport, yes, just travel. The tourist visa (single entry) is actually obsolete now for people from one of the 93 countries on the 60-day-list.
Sounds good, thanks. What I see from the posts... Laos seems to be the most "relaxed" place at the moment to get the DTV. So yes, could be the first choice.
Yep... the rule is actually pretty clear... staying inside the country more than 180 days per tax year, doesn't matter what kind of visa, doesn't matter how many times you come and go.
Um... tourists and re-entry permits...? Why would they...? My question was actually related to the OP, so also to the retirement extension. Sorry... forgot to mention it...