The river rises within the Budderoo National Park about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-west of Illawarra lookout.

It initially flows in a north-westerly direction to Carrington Falls, where the river crosses the western escarpment of the Budderoo Plateau.

The river ends its course by flowing into Lake Yarrunga, a reservoir formed by the Tallowa Dam and situated just downstream of the confluence of the Shoalhaven and Kangaroo rivers.

The river descends 234 metres (768 ft) over its 47 kilometres (29 mi) course.

[2] The river is crossed by the historic Hampden Bridge in the town of Kangaroo Valley.