The Peel River is a 210-kilometre watercourse in the North West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales, forming part of the Namoi catchment within the Murray–Darling basin. Rising on the northern slopes of the Liverpool Range at an elevation of 743 metres, the river drops 457 metres over its course before reaching its mouth at the confluence with the Namoi River, south of Keepit Dam. It passes through or near the villages of Nundle, Woolomin, Piallamore, and Tamworth, and flows through Chaffey Dam along its course.

Water availability on the Peel River is closely tied to dam releases and broader catchment conditions. Paddlers in the region have historically chased environmental flow releases to find navigable water, particularly during drier periods when natural flows are insufficient. This makes trip planning dependent on monitoring release schedules from Chaffey Dam rather than relying on consistent natural flows.

The area around Chaffey Dam offers a distinctive paddling environment that includes a sunken forest visible from the water, and the surrounding landscape supports kangaroos and a variety of bird species. The river was named by explorer John Oxley in 1818 in honour of Sir Robert Peel, giving it historical significance within the broader story of European exploration in New South Wales.

Given the river's position within a drought-prone region of the northern Murray–Darling basin, paddlers should research current dam storage levels and any scheduled environmental releases well in advance of planning a trip.