Is the Gascoyne River the longest river in Western Australia?

The Gascoyne River is 865km long, It is the longest river in Western Australia, and flows into Shark Bay at Carnarvon.

The Gascoyne River forms the centrepiece of the remotely-populated Gascoyne region of Western Australia. Its headwaters are in the enormous Three Rivers Station, between Meekatharra and Newman.

Much of the water flows in from the Robinson Ranges further south. The Robinson Ranges are the southern boundary of the Gascoyne River’s catchment area.

Longest river in Western Australia?

According to Landgate, Western Australia’s land information authority, the Gascoyne River is 865km long. That makes it slightly longer than the Murchison River, which is 820km long.  It also makes it the longest river in Western Australia.

The Gascoyne River, however, is not one that flows all the time. Well, at least above ground anyway. It regularly goes dry, but continues flowing though an aquifer below the river bed.

Where is the mouth of the Gascoyne River?

The Gascoyne flows in a west to south westerly direction, largely through gold mining areas and sheep stations. The only town of any size on the river is Carnarvon, which is at the mouth of the Gascoyne as it flows into the northern end of Shark Bay.

The river is at least partly responsible for the tropical trees that happily grow in Carnarvon. The town is something of an oasis on the coastal drive north, despite the stark, dusty land to its east.

Carnarvon is a decent stop between Denham or Monkey Mia on Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Reef region around Exmouth. Just don’t expect to see the Gascoyne River flowing all the time there.

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