The Bendoc River rises within Errinundra National Park on the Errinundra Plateau, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south by east of Bendoc, in East Gippsland, Victoria.

The river flows generally north northwest, west northeast, southeast, and then northeast, joined by four minor tributaries, before joining with the Queensborough River to form the Little Plains River approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south southwest of Craigie, north of the Black-Allan Line that forms part of the border between Victoria and New South Wales.

However, there was a lack of uniformity in the spelling, variously as Bendoc or Bendock, in relation to a mountain, the river, a parish, and the town near the Victoria and New South Wales borders.

In 1966, the Shire of Orbost informed the Victorian government that local sentiment wished to retain the spelling Bendoc.

The matter was finalised when the decision of the Minister of Lands was published in the Victoria Government Gazette on 29 May 1968, proclaiming the town and river to be spelt Bendoc.