Little Murray River, a perennial stream of the Clarence River catchment, is located in the Northern Tablelands district of New South Wales, Australia.
Celebrated for its striking scenery and dynamic whitewater, the Little Murray River is a popular destination for kayakers and canoeists. Certain stretches, especially between Fernbrook Loop Road and Johnsens Road, feature clear rapids, waterfalls, and tight drops set within largely untouched rainforest landscapes.
From an ecological perspective, the river supports a rich diversity of macroinvertebrates and riparian plant life, with river oak forests dominating its banks. However, it faces pressures from invasive weeds, bank erosion, and nutrient runoff linked to upstream land use. The wider catchment, including the Nymboida River, sustains native fish populations, among them threatened species such as the eastern freshwater cod.
The river is also important for water supply and biodiversity conservation within the Clarence Valley. Ongoing management efforts aim to reduce sedimentation, preserve its wild river characteristics, and improve recreational access while maintaining environmental integrity within protected areas.
Little Murray River rises at Little Murray Trigonometrical Station, on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, within Bellinger River National Park. The river flows generally northeast and north, joined by one minor tributary, before reaching its confluence with the Nymboida River, east of Bostobrick. The river descends over its course.