Hunter River (Western Australia)

The Hunter River is a river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Hunter River
Location
Country	Australia
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Donkins Hll
• elevation	107 metres (351 ft)[1]
Mouth
• location	York Sound
• elevation	sea level
Length	16 kilometres (10 mi)
Basin size	408 square kilometres (158 sq mi)[2]

The headwaters of the river rise below Donkins Hill. The river flows in a south-westerly direction until it discharges into Prince Frederick Harbour then York Sound and the Indian Ocean.

The river was named in 1820 by the explorer Philip Parker King aboard the Mermaid while making charts in the area. The river was named after the surgeon on the Mermaid, James Hunter.[3]

The river has two spectacular waterfalls, the Hunter Falls and Donkin Falls, both of which drop 90 metres (295 ft). Moreover, a large and unusual rock formation is found at the mouth of the river.[4] The area is popular with tourism companies and several wilderness cruises operate there.[5][6]

References

1. "Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Hunter River". 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
2. "Modelled seabed response to possible climate change scenarios over the next 50 years in the Australian Northwest" (PDF). CSIRO. 1 March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
3. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of river names – H". Retrieved 6 September 2011.
4. "Kimberley Cruising - The Hunter River". 2007. Archived from the original on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
5. "Northstar Cruises". 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
6. "Kimberley Quest". 2007. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2009.