SYDNEY, Australia - Position: Island caretaker, duties: lazing around Australia's Great Barrier Reef for six months, salary: US$100,000.
Unemployed, take heart -- the aforementioned job ad is for real.
Billing it the "Best Job in the World," the tourism department in Australia's Queensland state said Tuesday it was seeking one lucky person to spend half a year relaxing on Hamilton Island while promoting the area on a blog.
The move is part of a campaign to boost tourism in the state.
Besides the plush salary, the job comes with free accomodation in an oceanfront villa and airfare from the winner's home country.
In exchange, the "employee" will be required to stroll the island's white sand beaches, snorkel, maybe take a dip in the pool -- and post photos and videos of his or her experiences on a weekly blog.
"It'll be huge," Tourism Whitsundays chief executive Peter O'Reilly said, adding he expected thousands will apply.
Applications are open until Feb. 22 and 11 finalists will be flown to Hamilton Island in May for the final selection process. The job begins on July 1.
