[3] The river rises in the Pinnacle Ranges below Mount McBryde near Pinevale, Queensland, 63 kilometres (39 mi) southwest of Mackay.

At Mirani the river flows to the east before reaching its mouth and emptying into the Coral Sea at Mackay.

[5] Upper parts of the catchment are too steep for agriculture and remain covered by rainforests and open woodlands.

[4] In 2002, a Queensland Government report found that the local sugar industry had allowed five pesticides to enter the river, exceeding acceptable standards.

In September 2022, the Queensland State Government's Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, announced a proposed pumped-storage hydroelectricity scheme that will involve flooding some land of the valley.