The Loddon River is an inland river in Victoria, Australia, draining the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range east of Daylesford and flowing north through the Loddon Mallee and Central Highlands regions before joining the Little Murray River near Swan Hill. It forms part of the Murray-Darling basin and passes through several townships including Daylesford, Bendigo, Bridgewater on Loddon, Serpentine, and Kerang. The river is impounded by the Cairn Curran and Laanecoorie reservoirs, both of which accommodate motorboats and sailing.

The character of the river varies considerably along its length. Downstream of the Calder Highway bridge, the Mill Rapid offers Grade 3 whitewater kayaking — a short, fast technical run typically accessed via local roads on the west bank. Upstream of the Calder Highway bridge, the paddling is more relaxed, though paddlers should expect to share the water with swimmers, anglers, and waterskiers. The pool upstream of the Bridgewater weir is actively used for waterskiing. At Kerang, the river passes through wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention as being of international importance.

Three self-guided canoe trails have been established in the Loddon Valley. The Loddon River Canoe Trail at Serpentine covers a slow, meandering 4-kilometre section of the river departing from the Bridgewater-Serpentine Road Public Boat Ramp, and is described as suitable for most ages and paddling abilities. The Laanecoorie Canoe Trail, accessed from the boat ramp near the Janevale Monier Bridge on Tarnagulla-Laanecoorie Road, features naturally formed mazes along the river and secluded beaches; public toilets are available at the launch point. A boat ramp at the Loddon Weir also provides road access for launching directly from the bank.

There are weirs at Bridgewater and Kerang that maintain water levels in those towns, but the river can dry up in summer, making water levels a critical planning consideration. Paddlers should verify flows before committing to a trip, particularly in the warmer months. The river corridor supports River Red Gum woodland, and the broader region has significant gold-rush history in its surrounding box-ironbark forests. Within the Shire of Loddon, vessel operations on the river are managed by Loddon Shire Council, and a specific zoning arrangement applies to the section at Bridgewater between the Flour Mill Weir and Sweeneys Lane.