The river flows in a generally north-north-westerly direction past Tottenham, Peak Hill and through Nyngan.

The eastern catchment between the Bogan and Macquarie Rivers is ill-defined and has only one major tributary, Mulla Cowal.

[7] Unlike the other main rivers of inland New South Wales, the Bogan does not rise in the well-watered highland areas, so its flow is low and erratic and not much use for irrigation.

[12] The river was crossed by John Oxley in 1817, but was named by Charles Sturt in his 1828-9 expedition as New Years Creek on 1 January 1829.

It is about 60 km long, extending from Gunningbar Creek near Warren to the Bogan River upstream of Nyngan.