German influencer reveals how she lived on a tropical Qld island rent free for two months
A European backpacker has revealed how she was able to live on a tiny tropical island off Queensland without paying any rent for two months while getting paid.
QLD News
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A German content creator has revealed how she scored a two-month stay on a central Queensland island for free.
Sirirat Nensewicz, 27, had originally planned to travel around Australia on a working holiday visa when she was told she needed 88 days of specified work to be eligible for a visa extension.
After plenty of searching, the content creator from Hamburg, Germany, landed a role on Pumpkin Island, cleaning, gardening and bartending around the island’s eco resort.
The island, located almost 14km off the coast of Yeppoon, is a six-hectare privately-owned island surrounded by the Keppel Islands.
Pumpkin Island’s eco-resort, which can host up to 34 guests, is made up of seven self-catering units all powered by the wind and sun.
Ms Nensewicz told British media outlet SWNS she only had to work 24 hours every week for $800 a fortnight on the island.
The only expenses she had to pay were her phone bill and groceries, which were delivered on a boat once a week.
“I remember arriving by a tiny boat shared with people visiting the island on the first day and having to off-load their luggage,” she told SWNS.
“The island was very small with only the managers living there full-time and the previous two workers.”
When she wasn’t working, she was laying in the sun on a hammock, and making the most of her island home.
Posting regular content to TikTok boasting her work-life balance on Pumpkin Island, one video showed Ms Nensewicz lounging on a hammock captioned, “Imagine you define being rich in money”.
“I currently live on a tiny island getting $800 fortnightly, don’t have to pay rent, only work 24 hours a week and have so much free time to swim, tan, snorkel, workout and do whatever I want,” the post read.
In another, Ms Nensewicz recorded herself sweeping a porch overlooking the crystal blue water on Pumpkin Island.
“This is your reminder that your 88 days of specified work in Australia could also look like this,” the caption in the video read.
Ms Nensewicz even posted a TikTok showing the inside of her accommodation and how close it was to the water’s edge.
Ms Nensewicz’s social media videos instantly went viral, with one post receiving 1.3m views.
“How did you get in this situation??? Sounds perfect,” one commented.
“As an Australian, I want to work there,” another wrote.
“Oh wow looks like a really lovely place to stay,” a third said.
Plenty were asking whether the employers on Pumpkin Island were looking for their next staff members.
“Are they currently still looking for people?” One person asked.
“How did you find this job?” A second asked.
“Hi! Are there Open spots for two people at the end of October?” Another said.