Hamilton Island - the Great Barrier Reef

Filed in archive Hidden Gems on January 17, 2009

I spent four years in Australia and I have to admit that until Queensland decided to advertise this job I'd never heard of Hamilton Island. A number of sources have pushed it as "the Best Job in the World" - and I guess it's one of the most successful short term marketing ploys I've seen in a while.

The AFP's article describes the job:

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the successful applicant's home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the "island caretaker" will be expected to stroll the white sands, soak up the sun, snorkel the reef, "maybe clean the pool" - and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

Sounds like fun. I thought of applying myself. I have a couple of advantages. I know how to blog. And I spent four years Down Under, so I already speak Australian...


Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Image# 2451123