FOLLOWING an Australian tourist board’s advertisement for a caretaker on the Great Barrier Reef, NARELLE MULLER grabs laptop and sunscreen and heads to luxurious Hamilton Island to try out the best job in the world...

IT’S BEING advertised by Tourism Queensland, Australia as the best job in the world.

Lolling about in crystal seawater the temperature of a warm bath I accept it could have its attractions.

They are looking for a caretaker for the idyllic Hamilton Island, at 1.9 square miles the largest of the 74 Whitsunday Island archipelago on the Great Barrier Reef.

I have selfl essly put myself forward to do a bit of “work experience” and road-test the job.

As scores of jewel-coloured fi sh dart around me part of the job description springs to mind.

“Getting to know the locals” is listed as one of the duties. So far, the work couldn’t really be described as too taxing.
Back on dry land, I confront some less charming individuals.

Two young men lazing on sun loungers are trying to be subtle as they ogle an attractively-formed young woman parading along the beach.

“Do you reckon they’re real?” asks one.

The oblivious string-bikini-clad owner of the body parts in question gazes out to sea and waves cheerily to a tiny silhouette on a windsurfer.