`` Last year , I drove all around Africa , I crossed deserts , climbed mountains , run marathons , bungee jump , mountain-bike , scuba-dive and snorkel everywhere because I 'm practically a fish myself . '' Oh , and he rode an ostrich . He will move into a three-bedroom beach home overlooking the tropical island 's Great Barrier Reef . For six months , he will feed the fish , clean the pool and send weekly blog and video reports on what is happening on the island . Other benefits include free return airfares from their nearest capital city , transport on the island , computer and camera gear and travel to other islands . The applicants used various attempts to woo their prospective employer , from wandering round a chilly city center in a bikini , to making their application in the form of a street musical , complete with chorus singers . Sixteen finalists were flown in to Hamilton Island on Monday for interviews with a four-person panel . The job starts July 1 . The `` world 's best job '' campaign was 18 months in the making as a way to lure more
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The `` best job in the world '' contest has generated huge interest around the globe , but the jury is out on whether that will translate into more tourism dollars for Queensland , Australia . Ben Southall will move into a three-bedroom beach home overlooking the Great Barrier Reef . `` That 's the million dollar question , '' said Anthony Hayes , CEO of Tourism Quensland , which sponsored the contest . `` Quite frankly you can have $ 150 million worth of publicity , but if it does n't generate sales you 've really wasted your time on a pretty story . '' A British man beat 34,000 other applicants Wednesday to win the right to stroll the white sands of a tropical island in Queensland , Australia , file weekly reports online to a global audience and earn a cool $ 100,000 . Watch as lucky winner is revealed '' For the winner , Ben Southall , the six-month assignment is a far cry from his old job as a fundraiser . `` I love discovering new places , '' Southall said in his hyperkinetic minute-long application video for the position .