The Abercrombie River flows through Abercrombie River National Park on the NSW Central Tablelands, offering paddlers access to a relatively remote waterway set within open forests of scribbly gum and stringy bark in the south, and denser mountain gum forests in the higher northern sections of the park. The park was gazetted in 1995 and protects the largest intact patch of open forest on the NSW Central Tablelands, giving the river corridor a largely undisturbed character.

The most accessible put-in point is Bummaroo Ford campground, located near Oberon, which can be reached by 2WD vehicles. This makes it the primary entry point for paddlers who do not have four-wheel drive capability. Other camping areas along the river — Silent Creek, The Beach, and The Sink — are accessible by 4WD only, which opens up additional sections of the river for those with suitable vehicles. These campgrounds on shaded, grassed river flats can serve as staging points or take-outs for multi-day trips.

Canoeing and kayaking are explicitly permitted on the river, and the area around Bummaroo Ford is described as family-friendly, suggesting the river in that section is suitable for paddlers of varying experience levels. Swimming is also noted at several locations along the river, which indicates generally calm water in those areas. Trout fishing is another activity on the waterway, so paddlers may encounter anglers along the banks.

Wildlife along the river includes wallabies, kangaroos, emus, and platypuses, with the latter most likely to be spotted at isolated waterholes during dawn or dusk. The riverbanks also contain historical remnants from 19th-century gold mining activity, including diggings, water races, and sluices, as well as an abandoned goldminer's cottage near a feature called Licking Hole.

Facilities at Bummaroo Ford include camping infrastructure suitable for families. The 4WD-access campgrounds at Silent Creek, The Beach, and The Sink provide additional options for paddlers undertaking longer river journeys. Given the park's remote nature and the 4WD-only access to most campgrounds beyond Bummaroo Ford, paddlers planning trips beyond the immediate Bummaroo Ford area should be prepared for limited vehicle access and self-sufficient travel.