Want to escape from the rat race and stay in a remote island? Want to have that dream job by the ocean? Want to get off the grid even for just a while? Here may be the escape that you are looking for:
Tasmanian Parks And Wildlife Service is looking for two volunteers to work as lighthouse keepers, according to Travel + Leisure. They will be "expected to maintain the grounds, buildings, plants, and equipment on the island. They will also have to send daily weather reports to the Bureau of Meteorology. "
The new lighthouse attendants must be able to work well together since they will have each other's company for 6 months. They must be self-sufficient, with "a proven ability to live and work in remote locations," according to the work ad. They will be trained to carry out daily weather observations for the Bureau of Meteorology like determining visibility and identifying cloud types.
The lighthouse is on Maatsuyker Island, a 460 acre remote isle 6 miles off the coast of Tasmania. It is located within the Tasmanian Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Site and wildlife abounds there like penguins, fur seals and the soft-plumaged petrel, which is an endangered species. Although the weather is "frequently cold, wet and very windy," lighthouse keepers will be able to enjoy of the island's rich biodiversity and rugged coastline.
Facilities available for the volunteers are 4 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room and one bathroom. Volunteers will be definitely of the grid because there is no internet access and no TV, but there is one fan heater for warmth. Volunteers are expected to provide for their own clothing, entertainment and bedding. They are also to provide for their own food, but there is a vegetable garden on the island for fresh produce.
The only way to get to the island by helicopter for emergencies and for getting supplies every 3 months. There will be four shifts over the next two years (from September to March or March to September). Application for the volunteer work is open until January 30.
