The Best 'Drive-In, Drive-Out' Locum Locations Near Melbourne

For Melbourne-based doctors, the perfect locum shift doesn't have to involve a flight. 

It can start with a coffee in a keep cup, a scenic cruise down the freeway, with the quiet satisfaction of knowing that by lunchtime you’ll be working at a regional hospital where your skills are valued, and a higher daily rate that reflects it.

Drive-In, Drive-Out (DIDO) locuming is the ultimate career hack: maximise your earnings and clinical variety while keeping your Melbourne base.

At Jon & Jon Medical, we specialise in the Victorian circuit. Here is your definitive guide to the top hospital locations within an easy drive of the city, and why they are world-class lifestyle destinations.

Major Regional Hubs (The Big Hitters)

Ballarat Health Services and Bendigo Hospital: Heritage Charm Meets Modern Medicine

Drive time: 90 mins - 2 hours drive from Melbourne

These are the gold standard for regional locuming. Ballarat Health Services and Bendigo Hospital are massive, modern facilities that function like metropolitan tertiary centers but with a collegiate, "everyone knows your name" vibe.

And when you finish?

In Ballarat, you can circle Lake Wendouree at sunset or wander through Australia’s oldest regional gallery. In Bendigo, you’ll find a food scene that punches well above its weight and heritage streets that feel like a film set.

Gippsland: Latrobe & Warragul: Rolling Green Hills & Proper Regional Medicine

Drive time: ~ 2 hours from Melbourne

Often grouped together, Latrobe Regional Health (Traralgon) is the large specialist referral hub, while West Gippsland Healthcare Group (Warragul) offers a high-touch, community-centric environment.

Latrobe Regional Health is Gippsland’s primary referral hospital and supports a broad regional catchment. The case mix is varied and reflective of true regional medicine. Locum placements here are often well structured and supported, making it a reliable option for both short and medium-term engagements.

Meanwhile, West Gippsland Healthcare Group offers a community-centred hospital environment where you’ll likely know the nursing staff by your second shift.

On your days off? Think boutique cheeses, farmers markets, cool-climate wineries, and in winter, proximity to the Mt Baw Baw snowfields. Traralgon is the region's "action city," home to the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre and incredible cool-temperate rainforests like Tarra-Bulga National Park.

Coastal Powerhouses: Bass Coast Health (Wonthaggi) & South West Healthcare (Warrnambool)

If you want to finish your shift and be on the sand in five minutes, Bass Coast Health and South West Healthcare (Warrnambool) are your top picks.

Bass Coast Heath, Wonthaggi

Drive time: ~90 minutes from Melbourne

One of the closest regional public health services to Melbourne, Bass Coast Health offers steady locum demand throughout the year.Its coastal location brings predictable seasonal population increases, which support ongoing short-term and repeat placements. The manageable travel time makes it ideal for weekend blocks or shorter contracts.

Phillip Island, Inverloch beaches, coastal walks -  it’s all there. If you surf, fish, or simply enjoy standing near water, this is your spot.

South West Healthcare, Warrnambool: The Great Ocean Road Finale

Drive time: About 3 hours from Melbourne, Worth every kilometre.

Further west, Warrnambool sits at the end of one of the world’s most iconic coastal drives. South West Healthcare is a substantial regional service with consistent demand across specialties. 

This is where you book a 10-day locum and quietly extend it.

Whale watching season. The Deep Blue Hot Springs. Long coastal runs after a shift that remind you medicine is only one part of life.

Shepparton & Echuca: The Sun-Drenched Goulburn Valley

Drive time: 2 to 2.5 hours from Melbourne

Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton and Echuca Regional Health sit in the heart of Victoria’s food bowl.

Goulburn Valley Health is one of the most consistently in-demand regional locum destinations in Victoria. Serving a large and diverse population, the hospital experiences sustained workforce demand throughout the year. Many doctors incorporate Shepparton into ongoing locum circuits due to its consistent opportunities.

Shepparton also offers a thriving arts scene and a kaleidoscopic food culture reflecting its incredible cultural diversity.

Echuca Regional Health provides smaller-scale hospital services with structured support. The Murray River setting and manageable size appeal to doctors seeking regional placements within a supportive environment.

Echuca is the paddle-steamer capital of Australia, perfect for riverside dining and water sports.

Albury Wodonga Health & North East Health Wangaratta: The Gourmet Gateway

Drive time: 3 - 4 hours from Melbourne

Heading up the Hume Highway leads you to Albury Wodonga Health (the only cross-border health service in Australia) and Northeast Health Wangaratta.

Albury Wodonga Health is one of Australia’s most unique health services, straddling two states and serving a massive regional population. For senior ED locums, anaesthetists, O&G, psychiatrists and GPs, it offers high clinical exposure with structured support.

Wangaratta carries a similar energy: busy enough to stay sharp, regional enough to feel connected.

Once you're off shift? 

You’re in the heart of North East Victoria’s wine country. The King Valley’s prosecco trail is minutes away. Beechworth’s historic streets are made for slow Saturday mornings. The Victorian Alps offer hiking, cycling and winter escapes.

Rural Gems: The "True" Tree Change

Beyond the larger referral centres, Victoria’s smaller rural hospitals provide high-autonomy locum opportunities. A Tree Change locum is the ultimate mental reset, trading the metropolitan grind for a medical practice defined by greater clinical autonomy, fresh air, and a five-minute commute through the gums.

These locations are perfect for doctors seeking a slower pace, high-impact community work, or a "working holiday" in Victoria’s most beautiful landscapes.

For doctors and rural generalists seeking a slower pace in stunning settings, we have consistent vacancies in:

Alexandra & Leongatha:

Nestled in lush, bucolic countryside, these towns offer a quintessential Victorian village vibe. Spend your mornings at a local bakery and your afternoons exploring the rolling hills of the Shire of Strathbogie or the South Gippsland dairy country.

Bairnsdale & Portland:

These coastal-meets-rural hubs are a dream for the outdoorsy clinician. Bairnsdale is the gateway to the sprawling Gippsland Lakes (perfect for boating), while Portland offers rugged cliffside walks and some of the best whale watching and deep-sea fishing in the state.

Horsham & Kyabram:

These are the heartlands of the Wimmera and Goulburn Valley. They offer a deep sense of community where you aren’t just another doctor in a scrub suit, but a vital pillar of the town.

Timboon:

 A true hidden gem on the 12 Apostles Gourmet Trail. Between shifts, you can visit the famous local distillery, Timboon Fine Ice Cream and the Schulz Organic Creamery & Cafe. It’s the ultimate "foodie" tree change!

All these locations remain within practical driving distance from Melbourne while offering meaningful clinical responsibility.

Exploring Locum Opportunities Within Driving Distance from Melbourne?

According to the Victorian Department of Health, regional and rural services continue to experience workforce pressures, supporting ongoing demand for short-term and specialist locum coverage.

For Melbourne-based doctors, the regional Victorian circuit offers sustainable travel distances, structured public hospital environments, and consistent locum demand.

If you are considering regional hospital locum work in Victoria, our team at Jon & Jon Medical can help you structure placements that fit your availability and long-term goals.

Our specialist team has the inside track on upcoming blocks in these exact locations. We handle the paperwork, the travel, and the boutique accommodation so you can focus on the patient (and the playlist).

Speak with our team today about building a sustainable DIDO locum circuit.

Your next opportunity may be closer than you think.