Five perks to locuming in NZ for junior doctors

Renowned for its natural beauty and enviable working lifestyle, New Zealand offers one of the most beautiful backdrops for locuming in the world.

From sun and sand to gourmet food and wineries, snowy mountains, unreal hikes, mountain bike trails, and huge blue lakes - take your pick. You'll be spoilt for choice when you're not on the clock, and as a junior doctor, you can combine gaining experience with exploring the country. Here are some of the perks to locuming in NZ for RMOs and Registrars.

1/ You'll get to embrace the outdoors

There is so much to see and do across the country and you can pick a nice wee spot that suits your hobbies - or if you're locuming, why not move around and try a bit of everything? You can pop on your skis or snowboard and hit the slopes in locations nearby Queenstown, or chase warmer weather in Taranaki where you can surf on stunning beaches, or go for a hike around the picturesque Mount Taranaki.

2/ Enjoy the best of all worlds

The bustle of the city is never too far from the great outdoors. New Zealand is small enough to have the best of all worlds. Live in the coolest little capital in the world, Wellington, and indulge in fine fare and buzzing cafes while heading off to nearby rugged trails, or over to one of the many beaches. You can live in the garden city, Christchurch, and shoot over to Mt Hutt on the weekends to enjoy snow sports, which is only one hour away.

3/ A variety of opportunities

Learn more in different environments. You'll be able to see how practices and processes work at different hospitals or clinics. You could go from working in a state-of-the-art practice where you'll witness the latest medical technology one day, to a rural hospital where you will see how a close-knit community operates the next. Discover new career paths and try different working environments and locations and work alongside a range of different experts and specialists.

4/ A great work/life balance

When asked about the NZ lifestyle, Dr Anita Eshraghi says that it's "not so stressed! It’s SO relaxed, I haven’t been stressed since I arrived. It’s a better quality of life. We love to ski and surf – we’ve taken surf lessons every weekend in Raglan. Not a single weekend has been spent in the house."

5/ Lower living vs lifestyle costs.

When comparing New Zealand to Australia, the cost of living is pretty similar (although it could be argued the price of groceries and housing is cheaper in Australia). However, New Zealand allows you to double the lifestyle for half the cost. For example, live right in the city centre in cities like Christchurch for what you would pay in the suburbs of Australia, or live in places teeming with natural beauty like Mount Maunganui or Queenstown where the lifestyle offered is priceless.

We have a range of locum and permanent opportunities available all over the country, so what are you waiting for?