The river flows from the junction of the Hill River and the Yakillo Creek immediately south of Spalding in a westerly direction towards Spencer Gulf.

[5][6] Tributaries of the Broughton include Freshwater Creek, Bundaleer Creek, the Rocky River, Crystal Brook, Yakillo Creek, the Hill River and the Hutt River.

[3]: 9  The river descends 292 metres (958 ft) over its 110-kilometre (68 mi) course.

[1] The river was named in May 1839 in honour of the Anglican cleric, William Broughton, by the explorer, Edward John Eyre.

This article about a river in South Australia is a stub.