Sydney: Tens of thousands of people from more than 200 countries have applied for "the best job in the world" -- being paid to loll about on an Australian island -- officials said on Monday.
A late rush of more than 7,500 applications over the weekend brought the number people hoping to become "caretaker" of tropical Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef to 34,684, the Queensland state government said.
The deadline for applications was midnight GMT on Sunday.
"This has been a phenomenal response and certainly more than we ever anticipated," Tourism Queensland chief executive Anthony Hayes.
The most interest came from the US with 11,565 applicants, followed by Canada with 2,791, Britain with 2,262 and Australia with 2,064, the government said in a statement.
Among the latest applicants were famed US crooner and movie star Dean Martin's son Ricci and a Barack Obama impersonator looking for a change of job.
Candidates had to submit a video application in English of up to one minute explaining why they are uniquely qualified for the post.
The job pays about $1,00,000 for six months and includes free airfares from the successful candidate's home country to the island of white sands and clear waters.