Western Australia's growing reputation as an international food and wine destination has inspired a new dream job as part of Tourism Australia's major global tourism marketing campaign, the Best Jobs in the World.

Tourism WA has partnered with Tourism Australia and five other state and territory tourism organisations to offer six Best Jobs in the World, along similar lines to Queensland's very successful campaign in 2009.

Tourism WA CEO Stephanie Buckland said Western Australia's Taste Master would be required to eat their way around the State, foraging out our finest produce and experiencing WA's best bars, restaurants, cafes, wineries and micro-breweries.

“But it won't be all eating and drinking – the successful applicant will also be required to get their hands dirty and catch some of his or her own food at some of the most extraordinary destinations WA has to offer,” Ms Buckland said.

“That could be fishing for Barramundi in the Ord River, mud crabbing at Cape Leveque, yabbying at Kukerin, diving for lobster off the Abrolhos Islands, Blue Manna crabbing at Mandurah, harvesting oysters in Albany or trout fishing at Pemberton – to name just a few possibilities.

“It's a tough job but somebody has to do it! All we ask in return is that the Taste Master shares their experiences with the world through a blog and other social media.”

The Taste Master will be based in WA's vibrant capital city Perth and will travel the length and breadth of the State during the six month contract. Accommodation, food and travel expenses will be paid for as part of a salary package worth a total of AUD$100,000.

“The qualifications required for the Taste Master are fairly broad, all they need is a passion for food, good times and the extraordinary, and have a flair for writing and social media,” Ms Buckland said.

“We expect the Taste Master to be employed from August this year until January 2014, encompassing most of spring and summer, which are fabulous seasons to be in WA.

“During that time the Taste Master is also likely to be sent on assignment to some of WA's best events including Margaret River Gourmet Escape, Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival, Taste of Gascoyne Festival, Shinju Matsuri Festival, Kalgoorlie Racing Round and the Mount Barker Grapes and Gallops.

“Of course 'all work and no play' isn't healthy, even for one of the world's best jobs, so we will ensure the Taste Master gets to enjoy some of the extraordinary experiences Western Australia has to offer as well.”

During the Taster Master's time in WA he or she could experience:

• riding the world's only Horizontal Waterfalls
• admiring the ancient Bungle Bungle Range in the World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park
• watching the sunset over Broome's Cable Beach
• snorkelling on the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef
• trekking through Karijini National Park
• exploring the historic Goldfields
• marvelling at the Gormley Sculptures at remote Lake Ballard
• swimming at Australia's whitest beach, Lucky Bay at Esperance
• touring the spectacular southern coast around Albany and Denmark
• walking through the majestic tall timber forests of the South West
• descending into Margaret River's spectacular caves
• cycling around Rottnest Island – to name just a few.

“WA's Taste Master truly is one of the best jobs in the world, and the winner is in for a once-in-a-lifetime extraordinary experience,” Ms Buckland said

The winners will be announced on June 21.

For more information, read Tourism Australia's media releases at media.australia.com/en-au/mediareleases/default.aspx or visit australia.com/bestjobs

For more news on the WA Taste Master, pick up a Tourism Western Australia media kit from the Tourism Western Australia stand or email michelle.kosonen@westernaustralia.com or sarah.turnbull@westernaustralia.com.

Media contact:

Michelle Kosonen

Destination/Events PR Manager – Tourism Western Australia                         

08 9262 1708/ 0414 244 715

michelle.kosonen@westernaustralia.com