Kowie River, has its source in the hills of the "Grahamstown Heights" from where it flows in a south-easterly direction draining the major part of the Bathurst region. Its major tributaries are the Bloukrans River, the Bak River and the Lushington River (or Torrens). The Little Kowei River is a smaller tributary which enters the estuarine portion of the river 14km from the mouth. There are also a number of smaller unnamed streams entering the river along its course. The river is part of the Fish to Tsitsikama Water Management Area.