Swap the 9-5 for odd jobs on ‘dreamy’ Australian island

We know the UK is finally getting a slice of summer right now (it took long enough) – but you never know how many more days of sunshine are in store.

In case you’re already looking ahead to the cooler months come the end of the year, it might interest you to know that Tasmania is enticing winter tourists with an ‘odd jobs’ offer.

The roles the Australian island state is offering people are both unusual and temporary, as they take place during the off-season. Paranormal investigator, wombat walker and stargazer are among the 10 wacky jobs being advertised.

Getting onto the particulars, it is worth noting that the positions are unpaid – however, successful applicants will have all their expenses (including food, travel and accommodation) covered by the Tasmanian Tourist Board.

Details are dependent on the role: for example, the paranormal investigator job is voluntary and just for one day, according to Tourism Tasmania.

Open to those with an interest in ‘history and mystery,’ this particular role involves picking up on paranormal activity using ‘the latest ghost-hunting equipment’ at Willow Court, which is one of Australia’s oldest asylums.

Another role on the list is an ‘oyster organiser’ – which will entail sorting, cleaning and categorising the freshly harvested shellfish from Great Oyster Bay. There are also taste-test opportunities for ‘quality control’ (so you might see us applying for this one).

Other jobs include boarding the Lynchford Express steam train as crew, travelling along the Tasmanian west coast, joining Tasmania’s Astronomical Society for a night to observe the skies, truffle hunting and becoming a ‘wine whisperer.’ Sounds fun, no?

According to Tourism Tasmania, 1.25 million people visited the island in 2023, which was more than in 2022 but slightly less than the 1.35 million tourists it received pre-pandemic in 2019.

In addition to this, the winter season (May to August) on the island sees temperatures drop to between 3-11C, with Lindene Cleary, the authority’s chief marketing officer, revealing to local media that ‘Australians seeking a well-being boost and a break from the daily grind’ are the target.

Frustratingly, this one is only for adult residents living in Australia – however, if you were always contemplating a move down under, you could always arrange a move for next year’s winter and put yourself forward (in 50 words or less).

See you down under, mate!

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