The Ashburton River is located within the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The river rises approximately 100 kilometres south of Newman and flows in a west-north-westerly direction until discharging into the Indian Ocean approximately 20 kilometres south west of Onslow. The North West Coastal Highway crosses the river at Nanutarra. The river has a length of approximately 680 kilometres. The river basin covers an area of 66,850 square kilometres and includes the towns of Paraburdoo and Tom Price.
Some of the larger tributaries of the Ashburton river include Beasley River, Henry River, Hardey River and Ethel river. Some of the smaller tributaries include Duck Creek, Turee Creek, Tunnel Creek, Angelo River, Stockyard Creek, Gorge Creek, Goldfields Creek, Peepingee Creek and Jubricoo Creek.
The river supports a wide variety of fish including barramundi and mangrove jack. The occasional salt water crocodile is also spotted in the river.
