The Powlett River (Boonwurrung: Kugerungmome) is a perennial river of the West Gippsland catchment, located in the West Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria.

The Powlett River rises on the southern slopes of the Strzelecki Ranges, near Ellerside, north of Inverloch, and flows generally west, joined by one minor tributary, before reaching its mouth within Bass Strait, west of Wonthaggi, within the Shire of Bass Coast.

The river descends 40 metres (130 ft) over its 27 kilometres (17 mi) course.

[6] In the Aboriginal Boonwurrung language the name for the river is Kugerungmome, with no clearly defined meaning.

[4] The river was named in 1840 in honour of Frederick Powlett,[1] the Commissioner of the Western Port District.