Tweed River (New South Wales)
| Tweed River South Arm Tweed River, Jerrys Creek | |
|---|---|
View of Tweed River mouth and Duranbah Beach. | |
| Etymology | River Tweed |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | New South Wales |
| Region | New South Wales North Coast (IBRA), Northern Rivers |
| LGA | Tweed |
| City | Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | McPherson, Burringbar, Condong and Tweed ranges |
| • location | near Lillian Rock |
| • elevation | 169 m (554 ft) |
| Mouth | Coral Sea, South Pacific Ocean |
• location | Point Danger |
• coordinates | 28°10′10″S 153°33′23″E / 28.16944°S 153.55639°E |
| Length | 78 km (48 mi) |
| Basin size | 1,055 km2 (407 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Near mouth |
| • average | 24.8 m3/s (780 GL/a) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Byrrill Creek, Korrumbyn Creek, Oxley River, Rous River |
| • right | Doon Doon Creek, Smiths Creek (Tweed), Rolands Creek, Dunbible Creek |
| National park | Wollumbin National Park |
The Tweed River is a river situated in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. From the middle reaches of its course, the state boundary between New South Wales and Queensland is located approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north.
The river rises on the eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range; with its watershed bordered by the McPherson, Burringbar, Condong and Tweed ranges and containing a catchment area of 1,055 km2 (407 sq mi). The river flows generally north east, joined by eight tributaries including the Oxley and Rous rivers before reaching its mouth at its confluence with the Coral Sea of the South Pacific Ocean, south of Point Danger; descending 173 metres (568 ft) over its 78-kilometre (48 mi) course.
On its journey, it passes through the major urban centres of Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads.
The river's drainage basin consists mostly of the erosion caldera of the Tweed Volcano, a huge extinct volcano of which Mount Warning is the volcanic plug. The Tweed River area has a fine subtropical climate, high rainfall and fertile volcanic soils. It was originally covered by rainforest, much of which has been cleared. Some remains in several national parks and reserves. The lowlands along the river are used for farming sugar cane and other crops.
The surrounding Tweed Shire is a local government area of New South Wales. Each year the river hosts a number of major aquatic events. The lower reaches of the Tweed River are a good recreational fishing site. Waterskiing, pleasure boating and rowing are other popular activities on the lower reaches of the river.