The river descends from the western slopes of the range and flows generally north by east parallel with the Gladstone-Monto Road through the Boyne Valley.

The river enters Lake Awoonga where it flows east by north, crossed by the Bruce Highway near Riverview, and finally discharging into the Port Curtis and the Coral Sea.

[2] The mouth is located between the twin towns of Boyne Island and Tannum Sands.

[3] The Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection consider the Boyne River to be the southern habitat extent of the saltwater crocodile.

However, crocodiles can occasionally be found as far south as the Mary River.