Culgoa River, a watercourse that is part of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, is located in the south west district of Queensland and the Orana district of New South Wales, Australia.The river is a continuation of the western branch of the Balonne River in southern Queensland, near Dirranbandi, and flows generally south-west across parts of the Darling Riverine Plains, joined by ten tributaries, including the Balonne and Birrie rivers, before forming its confluence with the Darling River near Bourke; descending 78 metres (256 ft) over the course of its 489 kilometres (304 mi) length.Culgoa is an Aboriginal word meaning "running through" or "returning".