The Hunter River in New South Wales stretches approximately 450 kilometres and drains into the sea at Newcastle, where the river mouth can be viewed from Stockton looking toward the Newcastle central business district. The river has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Wonnarua Aboriginal people, who called it the Coquun, meaning "fresh water," while the lower reaches near the coast are the traditional country of the Awabakal people.

Paddlers can access the river from several points in the Maitland area, including Morpeth at Queens Wharf, as well as Hinton and Lorn. The lower estuary section offers access to the Hunter Wetlands National Park, where the river's broad estuary supports critically endangered migratory wading birds, making it of particular interest to those who combine paddling with wildlife observation.

The river and its valley face ongoing environmental pressures from drought, climate change, and coal mining activity, which have implications for water availability and quality. The surrounding Hunter Valley is also a significant coal mining and wine-producing region, and thoroughbred horse studs are common in the broader landscape. Fishing from the water is a common activity, with flathead, bream, and mullet present in the tidal lower reaches, which can mean boat traffic in some sections. Paddlers exploring the estuary should be aware of tidal influences on water movement and depth in the lower river.