The Hopkins River, a perennial river of the Glenelg Hopkins catchment, is located in the Western District of Victoria, Australia.
The Hopkins River rises below Telegraph Hill near , and flows generally south, joined by twelve tributaries including the Mount Emu Creek, before reaching its mouth and emptying into Bass Strait at . The river descends over its course. The river and its tributaries drain much of Lake Bolac; and north of the river descends over the Hopkins Falls.
Together with the Merri River, the Hopkins flows through the regional centre of Warrnambool; and the river passes by the end of the Great Ocean Road near Allansford.
The Hopkins River is in extremely poor health with less than 5% of the river having natural bush and vegetation.
The Hopkins River Re-vegetation Project (HRRP) was commenced in 2016 by the Ellerslie Residents Group Inc.
Phase 1 of the HRRP project commenced in 2016 in Ellerslie. The Project is located between the Hopkins Highway bridge and the historic bridge.
Phases 2 & 3 of the project are planned to take place on the eastern bank between the phase 1 site and the Stony Creek Junction.
The river was named in 1836 by Major Thomas Mitchell after a friend, Sir John Paul Hopkins.