saac Taylor is a rural GP registrar on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. His weeks move between clinic work, emergency calls and aged care, with surfing giving him a life beyond medicine. He talks about losing track of time at Cactus, his favourite surfers and the small coastal town he hopes another surfing doctor might call home.
Where are you from, and what do you do?
I’m Australian and currently working as a rural GP registrar in Cummins and Elliston, on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
How did you get into rural medicine?
I studied medicine in Adelaide, spent my junior years at Flinders Hospital, then worked as a resident medical officer at Port Lincoln Hospital. I’m now a GP registrar in Cummins.
Have you found your niche?
Small town rural practice. Caring for your community can be challenging, but the rewards are significant. Every week brings a mix of emergency work, GP clinics, aged care and palliative care. I like that variety.
Where do you surf locally?
Fishery Bay, near Port Lincoln.
What’s your favourite surf destination?
Cactus, in far west South Australia.
Where else have you travelled to surf?
Lombok, Bali, Java and Sumatra in Indonesia, and Queensland’s surf coast.
Best surf trip ever?
You can’t beat Cactus with a crew. You completely lose track of time. Life revolves around surfing and chilling, and it’s a great place to make some music when the wind turns onshore.
Surfing In and Around The Cactus Area
Worst surf trip ever?
No such thing.
What’s the best thing about surfing?
It gives you a purpose outside your career. You can meet a complete stranger from another culture, in another country, and connect instantly through surfing.
Best surfing advice you’ve received?
“Oreo Biscuit” — Clayton Neinaber.
Who’s your favourite surfer?
John John Florence. For me, he has the best powerful, top to bottom carving of my generation. His Margaret River sessions are insane.
Locally, I love surfing with the underground legend Camel. He’s also fond of sharing a fresh watermelon in the car park.
What boards are you riding?
A 6’10” thruster step-up, 37 litres, shaped by local shaper Roger Matthews, and a 6’6″ McCoy single fin.
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A Surfing Doctors Classified: GP Wanted, Waves Nearby
Isaac’s introduction comes with an invitation. He’s looking for an adventure keen doctor to join the team in Elliston from January 2027. Here’s his pitch.
Elliston is a small seaside town of around 400 people on South Australia’s west coast. It’s home to the infamous Blacks and recently featured in Surfing World’s Shark Country. It’s also a lovely, close community full of talented, creative people who welcome fresh faces — even in the surf.
The role combines rural GP work with on-call cover for the local emergency department and nursing home. It includes three clinic days a week and seven days on call, with remote phone cover when required. Several GPs share the work because everyone wants to work part time and go surfing. A GP registrar position may also be possible.
The job includes work in Cummins, a busy rural practice about 90 minutes’ drive from Elliston. It starts in January 2027.
For more information, contact Isaac on 0477 207 708 or at isaactaylor253@protonmail.com.
National Geographic’s Elliston Review
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Read more:
Dr Rory Van Der Linden: Medicine, Surfing and the Pull of G-Land