By Christine Kellett
Best Job in the World finalists at play off Hamilton Island.
They've had a snoop around the caretaker's digs, gorged on local seafood and taken a dip in what will become - for one of them, at least - their own backyard swimming pool: the Great Barrier Reef.
And while a couple have complained about being stressed, jet-lagged and issued with ordinary Tourism Queensland cameras, contestants in the Best Job in the World competition have been singing the praises of the natural wonder in a series of online blogs written as part of the three-day "job interview" on Hamilton Island - exactly as organisers had intended.
PHOTOS: Best job contestants live it up
"This is the most exciting summer camp ever!" Taiwanese finalist Clare Wang blogged yesterday following a swimming contest and snorkelling on the reef.
"What moves me the most though is the wildlife here. Tears welled up in my eyes when Anthony (Hayes, TQ CEO) mentioned baby whales and baby koalas."
Having a "restless night" ahead of psychometric testing this morning, Irish studio production manager George Karellas wrote: "You really can't read or be told about the islands and fully appreciate just how good it is to be on them. Yes, they're beautiful, picturesque and spectacular but really for me what makes them are the people. If ever there was a race of people that seem like they have been let out to play its the Aussies on Hamilton Island."
A four-member judging panel has been trailing the group since their arrial on Sunday, leaving it to the world's media to put them through their paces.
TV crews, photographers and journalists from all over the globe have accompanied the 16, who have given "hundreds" of media interviews between them.
"We are closely monitoring their ability to deal with media, and an intense itinerary, all the while blogging about their experiences to the world," TQ CEO Anthony Hayes said.
"It's been absolutely action-packed since the candidates arrived yesterday with a swimming task and tour of the official caretaker residence as soon as they hit the ground."
Despite many of the candidates having media backgrounds, the level of interest in the competition has caught some by surprise.
Singapore-based PE teacher Greg Ryan compared the hungry press pack to a "cameraman firing squad".
"When we landed on Hamilton Island we were greeted by a flurry of media! I liken it to a cameraman firing squad. There were cameras and reporters everywhere! Poor Mieko was absolutely attacked by the three Japanese TV stations that came out," he wrote.
"I don't think the US realized how big this is-they didn't send anyone. Neither did Singapore BUT we'll be live to the world, superceeding all other current affairs! Hopefully your media supplier gets it's feeds from Roiters! (sic)"
The candidates will feed barramundi and stingrays before meeting National Park Rangers to learn about environmental issues facing the reef.
Brisbane student Hailey Turner and Queensland-raised, London-based photographer James Hill are representing Australia.
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