Rush for 'best job in world' crashes Australian website

Huge global interest in "the best job in the world" -- earning good money for lazing on a paradise island -- has crashed the Australian website where it is advertised, according to officials.

"We've been inundated, with around 300,000 people visiting the site yesterday," said a spokeswoman for the Queensland state government, which is offering the six-month post of "island caretaker".

"The website crashed -- in one hour alone 25,000 people were trying to visit -- but we're working on it and it should be up and running again later today," Nicole McNaughton told AFP.

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 famed Great Barrier Reef.

In return, the winner will be expected to have as much fun as he or she can -- soaking up the sun, swimming, snorkelling, sailing -- and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The campaign is a key element in a drive to promote the northeastern Australian state's 18 billion dollar a year tourism industry during the tough global economic climate, officials say.

The winner, who will stay rent-free in a multi-million-dollar three-bedroom beach home, must be over 18, a "fantastic and charismatic" communicator, and able to speak and write English.

"We've had visitors (to the website) from as far and wide as Mongolia and Vatican City" since the job was first widely publicised on Tuesday, McNaughton said.

More than 350 applications had already been submitted before the website crashed -- from Britain, the United States, Australia, Croatia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Canada, Netherlands and Portugal among other countries.

"The applicants so far have ranged from an Olympic gold medallist from Switzerland to a sun-seeking teenager from England to 'Richard' from the UK who can be seen swimming with the fish in his application," she said.

Candidates are required to create a video application in English of up to one minute explaining why they are uniquely qualified for the job.

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six-month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply on .

1. Islandreefjob.com