Hunter River (Western Australia)

Hunter River
Origin Donkins Hll
Mouth York Sound
Basin countries Australia
Length 16 kilometres (10 mi)
Source elevation 107 metres (351 ft)[1]
Mouth elevation sea level
Basin area 408 square kilometres (158 sq mi)[2]

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

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). Also a large and unique rock formation can be found at the mouth of the river.[4] The area is popular with tourism companies and several wilderness cruises operate in the area.[5][6]

References

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

Coordinates: 15°2′34″S 125°22′50″E / 15.04278°S 125.38056°E