Glorious: The view from the balcony of the caretaker's three-bedroom villa

However the Australian tourism board told the Telegraph the website is back up and running now - and they are bracing themselves for it to go 'a bit crazy'.



They are willing to pay £70,000 for someone to work 12 hours a month for six months while carrying out such duties as feeding turtles, watching whales and picking up the island's post.



No academic qualifications are needed, but good swimming skills and a love of snorkelling, scuba diving and other water sports are a must.



A passion for the great outdoors and the ability to speak English are also considered to be an advantage.

Lizard Island: Part of the candidate's territory

The successful candidate will have to demonstrate an 'adventurous attitude' coupled with a 'willingness to try new things'.



They will live rent-free on Hamilton Island (population 5,000), the 'jewel in the crown' of the Whitsunday Islands off the Queensland coast, and also look after some neighbouring islands.



The salary equates to an astonishing £972 an hour based on a flexi-time schedule of a 12-hour working month.

Dream location: The successful candidate will get to live here on Hamilton Island

In year-round sunshine - the top temperature this month will be 29c (84f) - they will stay in a three-bedroom villa with 'unbeatable' views of a crystalclear lagoon ringed by palm trees and white sandy beaches.



Free return flights, transfers, and transport around the island are included. Motor vehicles are prohibited, so golf buggies are the most common form of transport.



The cost of relocating any family members will have to be met by the new caretaker.



The offer might sound too good to be true, but the Queensland Tourist Board insists there is no catch.

Hamilton Island is dubbed the 'jewel in the crown' of the Whitsunday Islands

It says the role is an ideal opportunity for Britons to swap the rat race and the cold winter for a more relaxed life Down Under.



Jonathan Sloan, who works for Tourism Queensland in the UK, said: 'This is the best job in the world, there's no question about it.



'It has everything most people dream of - white sandy beaches, blue skies, warm seas and friendly people.

Activities board on Hamilton Island: Plenty of things to do when the successful candidate is not working

'It also boasts a generous salary package and requires only a few hours of relaxed work with minimum effort per week.'



Described as a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity', the role of 'Island Caretaker' is being advertised in 18 countries. Starting work on July 1, the successful applicant will have few responsibilities and can decide how best to fill their days.



But they will be required to produce a weekly online blog, photo diary and video updates of their time on the island.

The job offers an ideal opportunity for Britons to swap the 'rat race' and the cold winter for a more relaxed life

They will also have to give media interviews and email reports to chiefs at Tourism Queensland at the organisation's HQ in Brisbane.



Requirements for candidates include: 'Excellent communication skills, good written and verbal English skills, an adventurous attitude, willingness to try new things, a passion for the outdoors, and good swimming skills and enthusiasm for snorkelling and/or diving.'



Anthony Hayes, chief executive of Tourism Queensland, said the offer was being made to promote the island to a 'global market'.

'A passion for the great outdoors would be an advantage' for applicants

He said: 'The campaign aims to highlight the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and showcase Australia's unique island experience to the global market.'



Interested parties can apply by submitting a 60-second video outlining the reasons why they deserve to be picked. Applications close on February 22.



Tourism Queensland will select 11 potential candidates who will be flown to Hamilton Island for a selection process. The lucky applicant will be named on May 6.

The successful applicant will start work here on July 1

Man I would give anything for a job like that. It would be an experience doing practically nothing apart from being all 'Protector of the Environment and Animals' for 6 whole months. What I do best is swim, laze around and relax all day, and this job fits me to a T. I love being in the water and in the sun and doing all sorts of outdoorsy stuff and if I get paid for it, it's like Christmas coming early. Plus I love to write and documenting the whole experience weekly is like right up my alley. I'm so going to try my luck and apply for it. Now if only I can log onto the website because it has been near impossible due to heavy site traffic.