Douglas Shire Council’s recent search for new caretakers at Wonga Beach Caravan Park drew international attention after a television feature sparked a surge in applications.
What began as a quiet recruitment process turned into a global interest story when Channel 7 aired a segment titled Australia’s Best Job?, leading to hundreds of inquiries from across Australia and overseas.
Before the coverage, the council had received only a small number of applications for the role. Following the broadcast, council staff were inundated with interest, eventually appointing Richard Martin and Karen Atwell as the park’s new caretakers.
Richard said the attention surrounding the position took them by surprise.
“We put our application in on the second day that it opened. And then the television advert—if you want to call it that—came on and we’ve gone, ‘Holy heck, this position that we’ve applied for has gone Australia-wide, if not nationwide,’” he recalled on Council podcast DSC For You & Me.
“So, it was a bit of a shock to us, but it got great promotion for the area and great promotion for the Douglas Shire.”
Karen said the attention made their recent appointment even more special. “Richard and I both look at each other every day and just feel so blessed,” she said in a press release.
Since taking on their roles earlier this year, the couple have already welcomed a wide mix of guests to Wonga Beach Caravan Park, including backpackers, grey nomads, families, fishing enthusiasts, and travelers heading toward the Daintree Rainforest.
The park, located in Far North Queensland, offers a traditional, low-key experience in contrast to the modern, amenity-heavy holiday parks seen across the country.
“There’s not many of those caravan park types left. You haven’t got the jumping castles and the coffee machines, and I think a lot of people just come here because that’s what it is—it’s the old-school caravan park,” Richard said.
For outdoor hospitality operators, Wonga Beach’s experience highlights the power of media exposure and storytelling in attracting both staff and visitors.
The viral response to the caretaker role demonstrates how even smaller, more traditional parks can capture attention and appeal to guests seeking authentic, uncomplicated stays.
It also underscores the continued market value of “back-to-basics” tourism, a trend that resonates with travelers prioritizing nature, simplicity, and community over built-in entertainment.