Major rivers of Australia

Rivers are ordered alphabetically, by state. The same river may be found in more than one state as many rivers cross state borders.

Longest rivers nationally

A branch of the Murray River, near Howlong, New South Wales.
Longest rivers in Australia by length(September 2008)
OrderRiver nameSystemLengthSource
kmmiles
1Murray RiverMurray-Darling2,3751,476
2Murrumbidgee RiverMurray-Darling1,485923
3Darling RiverMurray-Darling1,472915
4Lachlan RiverMurray-Darling1,448900
5Warrego RiverMurray-Darling1,380857
6Cooper CreekLake Eyre1,300808
7Paroo RiverMurray-Darling1,210752

Longest river by state or territory

Although the Murray River forms much of the border separating New South Wales and Victoria, it is not Victoria's longest river because the New South Wales border is delineated by the river's southern bank rather than by the middle of the river. The only section of the river formally within Victoria is a stretch of approximately 11 kilometres (7mi) where it separates Victoria and South Australia. At this point, the middle of the river forms the border.

Longest rivers in each state or territory(December 2012)
State/territoryRiver nameLengthSource
kmmiles
Australian Capital TerritoryMurrumbidgee River5937
New South WalesMurray River1,8081,123
Northern TerritoryVictoria River510317
QueenslandFlinders River1,004624
South AustraliaMurray River700435
TasmaniaSouth Esk River245152
VictoriaGoulburn River654406
Western AustraliaGascoyne River834518

Rivers by state or territory

The following is a list of rivers located within Australian states and territories. Where a river crosses a state or territory boundary, it is listed in both states and territories. Where a river has a name that includes the word creek, it has been officially designated as a river.

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

The Geographical Names Board of New South Wales lists 439 rivers in the Geographical Names Register. In the following list, where there are duplicated names, the source local government area (LGA) is identified. In the event of there being two rivers of the same name within the same local government area, additional referencing is provided. Rivers of New South Wales lists all rivers below, grouped according to whether the river flows towards the coast or flow inland, and grouped according to their respective catchment and sub-catchment. Where shown in italics, the watercourse is a creek, rivulet, brook, or similar.

  • Rivers of New South Wales template
  • Waterways of Sydney template

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Queensland

  • Rivers of Queensland template
  • Waterways of Brisbane template

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  • Rivers of Victoria template
  • Waterways of Melbourne template

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List of major rivers by basin

Australia's largest primary rivers

RiverLengthDrainage areaAverage discharge
I. North East Coast (NEC)
Annan66km (41mi)939.7km2(362.8mi2)31.1m3/s (980GL/a)
Baffle Creek2,541.2km2(981.2mi2)11.4m3/s (360GL/a)
Barratta Creek109km (68mi)1,210.8km2(467.5mi2)10m3/s (320GL/a)
Barron165km (103mi)2,138km2(825mi2)34.6m3/s (1,090GL/a)
Bloomfield18km (11mi)418.5km2(161.6mi2)16.2m3/s (510GL/a)
Boyne125km (78mi)2,411.6km2(931.1mi2)10.3m3/s (330GL/a)
Brisbane344km (214mi)13,652.3km2(5,271.2mi2)56.5m3/s (1,780GL/a)
Burdekin886km (551mi)130,108.3km2(50,235.1mi2)394m3/s (12,400GL/a)
Burnett435km (270mi)33,267.2km2(12,844.5mi2)78m3/s (2,500GL/a)
Burrum31km (19mi)2,327.4km2(898.6mi2)9.5m3/s (300GL/a)
Calliope98km (61mi)1,856.4km2(716.8mi2)5m3/s (160GL/a)
Claudie23km (14mi)366.2km2(141.4mi2)12.2m3/s (390GL/a)
Daintree140km (87mi)1,303.5km2(503.3mi2)66.3m3/s (2,090GL/a)
Don60km (37mi)1,116.8km2(431.2mi2)10m3/s (320GL/a)
Endeavour140km (87mi)958.6km2(370.1mi2)28.1m3/s (890GL/a)
Fitzroy480km (300mi)142,839.6km2(55,150.7mi2)170m3/s (5,400GL/a)
Harmer Creek769.4km2(297.1mi2)20.5m3/s (650GL/a)
Haughton110km (68mi)2,172.4km2(838.8mi2)11.5m3/s (360GL/a)
Herbert288km (179mi)10,130km2(3,910mi2)137m3/s (4,300GL/a)
Herbert Creek1,131.6km2(436.9mi2)4.8m3/s (150GL/a)
Jeannie43km (27mi)482.8km2(186.4mi2)11m3/s (350GL/a)
Johnstone200km (120mi)1,642.5km2(634.2mi2)112.1m3/s (3,540GL/a)
Kolan195km (121mi)2,756.3km2(1,064.2mi2)11.8m3/s (370GL/a)
Liverpool Creek333.7km2(128.8mi2)21.6m3/s (680GL/a)
Logan184km (114mi)3,841.8km2(1,483.3mi2)31.7m3/s (1,000GL/a)
Lockhart36km (22mi)765km2(295mi2)16.3m3/s (510GL/a)
Mary291km (181mi)9,019.7km2(3,482.5mi2)64.9m3/s (2,050GL/a)
Mcivor65km (40mi)510.2km2(197.0mi2)12.7m3/s (400GL/a)
Meunga Creek314.6km2(121.5mi2)10m3/s (320GL/a)
Mulgrave70km (43mi)1,390.9km2(537.0mi2)101.1m3/s (3,190GL/a)
Murray70km (43mi)555.8km2(214.6mi2)20.6m3/s (650GL/a)
Murray Creek557km2(215mi2)13m3/s (410GL/a)
Nerang62km (39mi)486.8km2(188.0mi2)11.4m3/s (360GL/a)
Nesbit41km (25mi)693.3km2(267.7mi2)12.8m3/s (400GL/a)
Noosa60km (37mi)945.5km2(365.1mi2)11.3m3/s (360GL/a)
Normanby350km (220mi)24,429.1km2(9,432.1mi2)451.6m3/s (14,250GL/a)
O'Connell34.2km (21.3mi)886.5km2(342.3mi2)18.4m3/s (580GL/a)
Olive70km (43mi)1,701.6km2(657.0mi2)52.3m3/s (1,650GL/a)
Pascoe119km (74mi)2,023.6km2(781.3mi2)71.2m3/s (2,250GL/a)
Pioneer120km (75mi)1,550km2(600mi2)31m3/s (980GL/a)
Proserpine69km (43mi)1,006.9km2(388.8mi2)15.2m3/s (480GL/a)
Ross49km (30mi)917.1km2(354.1mi2)10.9m3/s (340GL/a)
South Maria Creek183.3km2(70.8mi2)11.3m3/s (360GL/a)
Stewart96km (60mi)837.1km2(323.2mi2)12m3/s (380GL/a)
Styx33km (21mi)1,066.5km2(411.8mi2)2.7m3/s (85GL/a)
Tully133km (83mi)1,508.5km2(582.4mi2)84.5m3/s (2,670GL/a)
Other38,648.4km2(14,922.2mi2)559.6m3/s (17,660GL/a)
The North East Coast basin total450,705km2(174,018mi2)2,900m3/s (92,000GL/a)
II. South East Coast (NSW) South East Coast (SEV)
Avon122km (76mi)1,829km2(706mi2)7.6m3/s (240GL/a)
Barwon160km (99mi)8,795.6km2(3,396.0mi2)47m3/s (1,500GL/a)
Bega102.3km (63.6mi)1,960.5km2(757.0mi2)10.4m3/s (330GL/a)
Bellinger109km (68mi)1,141.6km2(440.8mi2)11.8m3/s (370GL/a)
Bemm58km (36mi)949.7km2(366.7mi2)7.6m3/s (240GL/a)
Bunyip76.5km (47.5mi)1,024.9km2(395.7mi2)8.5m3/s (270GL/a)
Cann102km (63mi)1,151.2km2(444.5mi2)8.6m3/s (270GL/a)
Clarence343km (213mi)22,700km2(8,800mi2)165.4m3/s (5,220GL/a)
Clyde102km (63mi)1,732.4km2(668.9mi2)12.4m3/s (390GL/a)
Curdies66km (41mi)1,031.5km2(398.3mi2)5.9m3/s (190GL/a)
Eumeralla78km (48mi)904.1km2(349.1mi2)4.1m3/s (130GL/a)
Fitzroy58km (36mi)1,385.9km2(535.1mi2)4.3m3/s (140GL/a)
Gellibrand96km (60mi)1,087.6km2(419.9mi2)11m3/s (350GL/a)
Genoa95km (59mi)1,741km2(672mi2)13.6m3/s (430GL/a)
Georges96km (60mi)934.1km2(360.7mi2)6.5m3/s (210GL/a)
Glenelg350km (220mi)12,157km2(4,694mi2)22.3m3/s (700GL/a)
Hastings180km (110mi)4,490km2(1,730mi2)58.7m3/s (1,850GL/a)
Hawkesbury120km (75mi)21,810km2(8,420mi2)95m3/s (3,000GL/a)
Hopkins271km (168mi)8,843.9km2(3,414.6mi2)47m3/s (1,500GL/a)
Hunter300km (190mi)21,430km2(8,270mi2)60m3/s (1,900GL/a)
Karuah101km (63mi)1,445.5km2(558.1mi2)10m3/s (320GL/a)
La Trobe271km (168mi)9,273km2(3,580mi2)54.8m3/s (1,730GL/a)
Macleay298km (185mi)11,420km2(4,410mi2)62m3/s (2,000GL/a)
Manning261km (162mi)8,190km2(3,160mi2)78m3/s (2,500GL/a)
Merri89.7km (55.7mi)1,029.1km2(397.3mi2)7.4m3/s (230GL/a)
Mitchell121km (75mi)4,873km2(1,881mi2)35m3/s (1,100GL/a)
Moruya157.6km (97.9mi)1,435.1km2(554.1mi2)8.3m3/s (260GL/a)
Moyne82km (51mi)626.3km2(241.8mi2)3.7m3/s (120GL/a)
Myall92km (57mi)967.2km2(373.4mi2)6.5m3/s (210GL/a)
Nambucca87km (54mi)1,299km2(502mi2)12.7m3/s (400GL/a)
Patterson58km (36mi)778.6km2(300.6mi2)5.5m3/s (170GL/a)
Richmond248km (154mi)6,862km2(2,649mi2)106m3/s (3,300GL/a)
Shoalhaven327km (203mi)7,086km2(2,736mi2)49m3/s (1,500GL/a)
Snowy352km (219mi)15,796km2(6,099mi2)75m3/s (2,400GL/a)
Stewarts62km (39mi)621.1km2(239.8mi2)6.3m3/s (200GL/a)
Tambo186km (116mi)2,891km2(1,116mi2)10.4m3/s (330GL/a)
Tarwin81.8km (50.8mi)1,591.7km2(614.6mi2)11m3/s (350GL/a)
Towamba86km (53mi)1,094.2km2(422.5mi2)7.2m3/s (230GL/a)
Tuross147km (91mi)1,815.1km2(700.8mi2)18.5m3/s (580GL/a)
Tweed78km (48mi)1,080km2(420mi2)25.4m3/s (800GL/a)
Yarra242km (150mi)5,464.4km2(2,109.8mi2)38m3/s (1,200GL/a)
Werribee110km (68mi)1,453.5km2(561.2mi2)7.3m3/s (230GL/a)
Other62,711.8km2(24,213.2mi2)186.6m3/s (5,890GL/a)
The South East Coast basin total268,000km2(103,000mi2)1,440m3/s (45,000GL/a)
III. South Australian Gulf (SAG)
IV. South West Coast (SWC)
V. Pilbara–Gascoyne (PG) (Indian Ocean)
Ashburton680km (420mi)75,698km2(29,227mi2)22m3/s (690GL/a)
Cane168km (104mi)2,798.6km2(1,080.5mi2)2m3/s (63GL/a)
Chapman105km (65mi)1,952km2(754mi2)1.7m3/s (54GL/a)
De Grey*569km (354mi)56,716km2(21,898mi2)36.4m3/s (1,150GL/a)
Fortescue760km (470mi)49,759km2(19,212mi2)12.4m3/s (390GL/a)
Gascoyne865km (537mi)75,835km2(29,280mi2)20.5m3/s (650GL/a)
George182km (113mi)1,994.4km2(770.0mi2)2m3/s (63GL/a)
Gibb112km (70mi)10,496.2km2(4,052.6mi2)2.7m3/s (85GL/a)
Greenough361km (224mi)12,164.8km2(4,696.9mi2)6.6m3/s (210GL/a)
Harding150km (93mi)1,685.3km2(650.7mi2)1.3m3/s (41GL/a)
Hutt72.4km (45.0mi)1,326.4km2(512.1mi2)0.34m3/s (11GL/a)
Irwin149km (93mi)6,145.9km2(2,372.9mi2)5.2m3/s (160GL/a)
Maitland92km (57mi)2,083.4km2(804.4mi2)0.8m3/s (25GL/a)
Murchison820km (510mi)91,253km2(35,233mi2)10.8m3/s (340GL/a)
Pardoo Creek99.9km (62.1mi)1,526.7km2(589.5mi2)2.6m3/s (82GL/a)
Peawah106km (66mi)2,222.8km2(858.2mi2)2.8m3/s (88GL/a)
Robe276km (171mi)7,587.8km2(2,929.7mi2)10.3m3/s (330GL/a)
Sherlock393km (244mi)5,137.1km2(1,983.4mi2)6m3/s (190GL/a)
Turner236km (147mi)3,584.8km2(1,384.1mi2)3.5m3/s (110GL/a)
Yule190km (120mi)8,636.9km2(3,334.7mi2)7.1m3/s (220GL/a)
Other101,395.9km2(39,149.2mi2)41m3/s (1,300GL/a)
The Pilbara–Gascoyne basin total520,000km2(200,000mi2)198m3/s (6,200GL/a)
VI. Tanami–Timor Sea Coast (TTS)
Adelaide238km (148mi)7,430km2(2,870mi2)60m3/s (1,900GL/a)
Berkeley135km (84mi)5,149km2(1,988mi2)13.1m3/s (410GL/a)
Blyth175km (109mi)9,219km2(3,559mi2)58.9m3/s (1,860GL/a)
Buckingham59km (37mi)1,301.7km2(502.6mi2)10m3/s (320GL/a)
Charnley148km (92mi)6,043.7km2(2,333.5mi2)21.2m3/s (670GL/a)
Daly*682km (424mi)53,708km2(20,737mi2)376m3/s (11,900GL/a)
Deep Creek6,736.9km2(2,601.1mi2)4.4m3/s (140GL/a)
Drysdale432km (268mi)15,722.5km2(6,070.5mi2)34.2m3/s (1,080GL/a)
Durack306km (190mi)14,237.9km2(5,497.3mi2)26.1m3/s (820GL/a)
East Alligator160km (99mi)15,876km2(6,130mi2)218m3/s (6,900GL/a)
Finniss2,391.5km2(923.4mi2)21.4m3/s (680GL/a)
Fitzmaurice276km (171mi)6,662.1km2(2,572.3mi2)48m3/s (1,500GL/a)
Mardoowarra Fitzroy733km (455mi)95,694.5km2(36,947.9mi2)210m3/s (6,600GL/a)
Forrest141km (88mi)3,061.2km2(1,181.9mi2)5.6m3/s (180GL/a)
Fraser70km (43mi)2,467km2(953mi2)7.7m3/s (240GL/a)
Glenelg89km (55mi)1,864km2(720mi2)13m3/s (410GL/a)
Glyde171km (106mi)10,391km2(4,012mi2)66.5m3/s (2,100GL/a)
Goomadeer138km (86mi)2,468.3km2(953.0mi2)36.1m3/s (1,140GL/a)
Isdell206km (128mi)5,526km2(2,134mi2)18.4m3/s (580GL/a)
Keep258km (160mi)4,996km2(1,929mi2)15.8m3/s (500GL/a)
King Edward221km (137mi)8,480.8km2(3,274.5mi2)42.8m3/s (1,350GL/a)
King George112km (70mi)2,884.6km2(1,113.8mi2)14.5m3/s (460GL/a)
Liverpool138km (86mi)8,480km2(3,270mi2)135m3/s (4,300GL/a)
Mary225km (140mi)7,413.8km2(2,862.5mi2)76.1m3/s (2,400GL/a)
May69km (43mi)2,412km2(931mi2)5.5m3/s (170GL/a)
Meda88km (55mi)11,851km2(4,576mi2)32.8m3/s (1,040GL/a)
Mitchell117km (73mi)2,955km2(1,141mi2)20.5m3/s (650GL/a)
Moyle133km (83mi)3,397.7km2(1,311.9mi2)20m3/s (630GL/a)
Murgenella Creek2,139.3km2(826.0mi2)15.3m3/s (480GL/a)
Ord651km (405mi)55,385km2(21,384mi2)150m3/s (4,700GL/a)
Pentecost118km (73mi)8,975.4km2(3,465.4mi2)19m3/s (600GL/a)
Prince Regent106km (66mi)2,127.3km2(821.4mi2)10.1m3/s (320GL/a)
Reynolds1,870.6km2(722.2mi2)24.8m3/s (780GL/a)
Robinson107km (66mi)2,559km2(988mi2)10m3/s (320GL/a)
Roe66km (41mi)3,284km2(1,268mi2)16.4m3/s (520GL/a)
South Alligator160km (99mi)11,917km2(4,601mi2)182m3/s (5,700GL/a)
Victoria560km (350mi)99,412.5km2(38,383.4mi2)159m3/s (5,000GL/a)
West Alligator80km (50mi)1,302.8km2(503.0mi2)12m3/s (380GL/a)
Wildman Creek98km (61mi)2,493.4km2(962.7mi2)25.4m3/s (800GL/a)
Other651,712.5km2(251,627.6mi2)404.4m3/s (12,760GL/a)
The Tanami–Timor Sea Coast basin total1,162,000km2(449,000mi2)2,640m3/s (83,000GL/a)
VII. Carpentaria Coast (CC)
Archer268km (167mi)13,848km2(5,347mi2)235.3m3/s (7,430GL/a)
Calvert222km (138mi)10,333km2(3,990mi2)30m3/s (950GL/a)
Chapman2,042.8km2(788.7mi2)23.7m3/s (750GL/a)
Cliffdale Creek197km (122mi)2,783.7km2(1,074.8mi2)7.2m3/s (230GL/a)
Coleman5,192.1km2(2,004.7mi2)48.8m3/s (1,540GL/a)
Ducie69km (43mi)3,226.6km2(1,245.8mi2)53m3/s (1,700GL/a)
Edward208km (129mi)4,000.9km2(1,544.8mi2)43.4m3/s (1,370GL/a)
Eight Mile Creek1,389.7km2(536.6mi2)4.2m3/s (130GL/a)
Embley54km (34mi)863.4km2(333.4mi2)15.3m3/s (480GL/a)
Flinders1,004km (624mi)109,715km2(42,361mi2)122.2m3/s (3,860GL/a)
Gilbert887km (551mi)46,412km2(17,920mi2)171.3m3/s (5,410GL/a)
Hey17km (11mi)521.6km2(201.4mi2)10.4m3/s (330GL/a)
Holroyd325km (202mi)10,287km2(3,972mi2)127.9m3/s (4,040GL/a)
Jackson64.7km (40.2mi)1,625.7km2(627.7mi2)28.5m3/s (900GL/a)
Jardine162km (101mi)3,282km2(1,267mi2)105m3/s (3,300GL/a)
Kirke83.6km (51.9mi)1,464.9km2(565.6mi2)24.4m3/s (770GL/a)
Koolatong92km (57mi)2,607km2(1,007mi2)25.4m3/s (800GL/a)
Lagoon Creek136km (85mi)2,425.6km2(936.5mi2)7.4m3/s (230GL/a)
Leichhardt630km (390mi)33,287km2(12,852mi2)69m3/s (2,200GL/a)
Limmen Bight514km (319mi)15,938km2(6,154mi2)36.6m3/s (1,160GL/a)
McArthur521km (324mi)19,597km2(7,566mi2)45m3/s (1,400GL/a)
Mission37km (23mi)1,239.5km2(478.6mi2)21.1m3/s (670GL/a)
Mitchell750km (470mi)71,757km2(27,706mi2)727.3m3/s (22,950GL/a)
Nicholson725km (450mi)53,200km2(20,500mi2)103.3m3/s (3,260GL/a)
Norman679km (422mi)50,445km2(19,477mi2)74.3m3/s (2,340GL/a)
Robinson215km (134mi)11,369km2(4,390mi2)23.9m3/s (750GL/a)
Roper*599km (372mi)81,794km2(31,581mi2)176m3/s (5,600GL/a)
Rose169km (105mi)3,601.5km2(1,390.5mi2)17.1m3/s (540GL/a)
Rosie Creek88.3km (54.9mi)1,942.4km2(750.0mi2)7.3m3/s (230GL/a)
Settlement Creek142km (88mi)3,940.4km2(1,521.4mi2)12m3/s (380GL/a)
Staaten383km (238mi)25,732km2(9,935mi2)217.1m3/s (6,850GL/a)
Towns84km (52mi)4,530.1km2(1,749.1mi2)11m3/s (350GL/a)
Walker119km (74mi)2,285.4km2(882.4mi2)15.3m3/s (480GL/a)
Ward46km (29mi)633.2km2(244.5mi2)12.4m3/s (390GL/a)
Watson92km (57mi)2,885.2km2(1,114.0mi2)48.6m3/s (1,530GL/a)
Wearyan152km (94mi)3,742.9km2(1,445.1mi2)11.3m3/s (360GL/a)
Wenlock322km (200mi)7,460km2(2,880mi2)126.7m3/s (4,000GL/a)
Other26,541.9km2(10,247.9mi2)191.2m3/s (6,030GL/a)
The Carpentaria Coast basin total641,000km2(247,000mi2)3,029.9m3/s (95,620GL/a)
VIII. Tasmania (TAS)
IX. Murray–Darling Basin (MDB)
Murray2,508km (1,558mi)1,061,469km2(409,835mi2)459.3m3/s (14,490GL/a)
The Murray–Darling basin total1,061,469km2(409,835mi2)459.3m3/s (14,490GL/a)
X. Lake Eyre Basin Bulloo–Bancannia
Lake Eyre Basin
Cooper Creek*1,420km (880mi)297,950km2(115,040mi2)35.7m3/s (1,130GL/a)
Finke–Macumba750km (470mi)101,490km2(39,190mi2)6.5m3/s (210GL/a)
Frome245km (152mi)18,200km2(7,000mi2)1.1m3/s (35GL/a)
Hale–Todd424km (263mi)59,890km2(23,120mi2)2.7m3/s (85GL/a)
Hay728km (452mi)100,376km2(38,755mi2)4.6m3/s (150GL/a)
Neales420km (260mi)35,000km2(14,000mi2)2.6m3/s (82GL/a)
Warburton–Georgina–Diamantina*1,400km (870mi)408,005km2(157,532mi2)60.2m3/s (1,900GL/a)
Other149,089km2(57,564mi2)33.1m3/s (1,040GL/a)
Bulloo–Bancannia Basin
Bulloo600km (370mi)48,033.7km2(18,545.9mi2)9.8m3/s (310GL/a)
Other52,966.3km2(20,450.4mi2)7.5m3/s (240GL/a)
The Lake Eyre and Bulloo–Bancannia basin total1,271,000km2(491,000mi2)162.2m3/s (5,120GL/a)
XI. South Western Plateau (SWP) North Western Plateau (NWP)
Australia

*Daly–Katherine (682 km), Roper–Waterhouse (599 km), Cooper Creek–Barcoo (1,420 km), Warburton–Georgina (1,400 km); De Grey–Oakover (569 km);

See also

External links

  • Media related toRivers of Australiaat Wikimedia Commons