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Tag: Best Job in the World View All Tags

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'Best Job In The World' Winner Ben Southall Looking For Four Assistants

August 13, 2009 at 9:29 AM | by JetSetCD | 1 Comment

We're already almost two months into Brit Ben Southall's six-month term as "Island Caretaker" of Queensland's Hamilton Island, and he's definitely received more criticism than praise for his work showcasing his travels around the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. This privilege to travel around, live in, and document a paradise on earth is the result of his winning Tourism Queensland's contest to fill the position dubbed "Best Job In The World."

Apparently, the hours have been long and the fun too time-consuming, and Ben hasn't been the best at his job requirements of blogging, twittering and vlogging his experiences. So he's seeking four assistants! It's your second chance at "The Best Job In The World," even if it's really just the second best job in the world.

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Virgin Blue Starts New Route, Direct to Best Job in the World

July 8, 2009 at 2:49 PM | by amandak | 0 Comments

Virgin Blue says they've introduced their new Sydney to Hamilton Island route—they started flying it on Saturday—only "after close analysis," saying there's long been a clear demand from both domestic and international travelers to access the Whitsunday Island's main stop from Sydney, but we suspect it's actually a sudden demand: everybody wants to see how Best Job in the World winner Ben Southall is doing.

It's surely no coincidence that Virgin Blue's route has started up just a couple of days after Ben arrived for his six-month residence on Hamilton Island. Now that he is Twittering and blogging his way around the Whitsunday Islands, it's no wonder Virgin Blue has found a bunch of extra customers.

If you want to check out Ben's lifestyle or have your own personal reasons for hitting the Whitsundays—sun, sand and surf still count—Virgin Blue has daily direct flights from Sydney. We found flights as low as A$145 ($115, one way) but you have to book a bit ahead of time to get 'em that cheap. Say hi to Ben for us!

Related Stories:
· Island Caretaker Blog [Official Site]
· Hamilton Island Gets a Brit for Best Job in the World [Jaunted]
· Virgin Blue Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Gluehwein Effects]

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Hamilton Island Gets a Brit for 'Best Job in the World'

Where: Hamilton Island, Australia
May 6, 2009 at 9:06 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Aw, shucks! We didn't win Tourism Queensland's huge contest to live on Hamilton Island, also known as the publicity bash called "Best Job in the World." Newsflash: you didn't either, unless you are Ben Southall of Hampshire, England. After four days of grueling Survivor-ish physical and mental testing on the island in the Whitsundays, the final 16 competitors were whittled down to just this 34-year old former African tour guide and charity worker.

It was truly a harrowing time for the folks, who were forced to endure such tests as receiving massages, dining on sumptuous meals of local cuisine, and being submersed in the Great Barrier Reef. Now with Ben Southall pegged to assume his role as "island caretaker" on July 1 for a period of six months, the other 15 can return to their normal, non-videoblogged lives on dry land.

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Finalists for 'Best Job In the World' Finally Go to Battle on Hamilton Island

Where: Hamilton Island, Australia
May 4, 2009 at 1:16 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

Time sure flies when you're not in the running for The Best Job in the World, "caretaker" of Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef, since it only feels like yesterday that we wracked our brain thinking of cool things to say in our audition video. Had we ever gotten around to making that video, perhaps we'd be one of the 16 finalists from 15 countries flown this weekend to their possible future home.

So what's on the hectic schedule for the Survivor-like group, which includes our past interview subject Angelene Orth? Having flown in on Virgin Blue, they've already seen the region's hottest airline, which was promptly followed by a tour of the digs at stake: the 3-bedroom luxury Blue Pearl villa.

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A 'Best Job in the World' Candidate Sets Her Eyes on the Prize

March 30, 2009 at 10:49 AM | by juliana | 0 Comments

We spent some time the other day talking with Angelene Orth, a candidate for the Tourism Queenland's "Best Job in the World" contest in which hopefuls are vying for the chance to work on an island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months.

The responsibilities of the Island Caretaker/Travel Correspondent job (salary: $150,000 AUD plus living and transportation costs) include "taking care" of the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the area and reporting back to the world wide web via video, photos, blogs and other "media commitments."

Orth, 27, and already employed by public relations firm Weber Shandwick, told Jaunted that she's got what it takes to leave the New York behind and settle down for six months Down Under.

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Dream Jobs, Nightmarish Storms And Yet Another Fare Sale

January 12, 2009 at 5:00 PM | by pbb | 2 Comments

With so much travel news flying around, we don't always have time to give every story big play. Here's more of the day's news, in brief.

· Dream Job Alert: Tourism Queensland in Australia plans to pay an "Island Caretaker" A$150,000 ($101,900) to spend six months blogging about how much fun it is to hang out on the Great Barrier Reef and go snorkeling. Yes really. Submit your video application here before February 22.

· Ireland (and Europe) on Sale: Aer Lingus has heaps of flights on sale for spring, like New York to Dublin for $415 and Boston to Paris for $534 all-in.

· Fiji Currently the Opposite of Idyllic: Flooding driven by powerful rain storms has killed eight on the Pacific island nation, and thousands of locals and tourists alike are taking shelter wherever they can. [AP, via Google]

· TV in Your Rental Car: Avis and Budget will add "Cruisecast" to rental cars for $9 a day or $63 a week, meaning you no longer have to plan trips around new episodes of "Burn Notice." [BT]

· John McCain Wants Airport Rules Relaxed: The senator is sick of the seemingly arbitrary rules that keep LaGuardia and Washington National from serving the West Coast--but are more flights from congested airports the answer? [CF]

[Photo of Lady Elliot Island: wo de shijie]