The river rises in the lower Inman Valley and flows generally north west through the Fleurieu Peninsula, through primarily agricultural surroundings and drains into the Gulf St Vincent.

The Bungala flows past the town of Yankalilla, and empties into the Yankalilla Bay, part of the Gulf of St Vincent, near Normanville.

[2] The Yankalilla Bay Catchment Action Group and the Normanville Heritage Sand Dune Rehabilitation Group are environmental groups aiming to preserving and restoring the river's natural state, whilst maintaining its use by the surrounding community.

[4] The river's name is derived from an Aboriginal name adopted for a house built on section 1171 in the Hundred of Yankalilla by Eli Butterworth in the 1860s.

He and his brother John owned and operated a steam powered flour mill on adjoining land.