Dispatch From Down Under: Hamilton Island

Greetings from Queensland, Australia. It’s been a whirlwind since my Virgin Blue flight touched down here yesterday in Hamilton Island, one of the 600 Islands of the Great Barrier Reef and the largest inhabited island in the breathtaking Whitsundays.

Led by our gracious Tourism Queensland escort Kylie, a group of 8 U.S. journalists and I drove by buggy through Hamilton Island’s winding hills to the aptly named Reef View Hotel. Upon entering my room, this was the view that greeted me...

What A View! My room at the Reef View Hotel on Australia’s Hamilton Island overlooks the Coral Sea.

I had just enough time to change and freshen up before rejoining the group and heading up to One Tree Hill, for a 360 degree look around.

Taking it all in from One Tree Hill atop Hamilton Island

Next, we toured Blue Pearl, a three-bedroom duplex home with sweeping island views, for a Q&A session with Tourism Queensland’s dynamic CEO Anthony Hayes.

It was then that we revealed to the journalists Tourism Queensland’s groundbreaking new campaign -- The Best Job In The World. The destination has just kicked off a global search to finding a winning candidate for the position.

What exactly is The Best Job In The World? Tourism Queensland’s newly created role of Island Caretaker. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime -- six months to live and work on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

The perks? In addition to accommodations on Hamilton Island at Blue Pearl, a $100k salary and the chance to share what it’s like to live above the reef by blogging and video diaries.

I’ve been here only a day and can definitely say the winning applicant will have no shortage of material. Majestic and unspoiled island beauty, an array of activities for the adventurous, and 2,000 welcoming locals. This is Australia at its best, nestled within one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.

Think you’ve got what it takes to be Island Caretaker? Log on to http://www.islandreefjob.com/ before February 22nd and submit a one-minute video application.

I may not be eligible for the Island Caretaker gig, but as I get to know this subtropical paradise, I can’t help feeling like I’ve got the best job in the world too.

Coming up…a visit to Queensland’s newest luxury resort and a bumpy but unforgettable plane ride over the Great Barrier Reef.