Skip to content
 
EstuaryWatch Data Portal
Volunteer Login

Overview

Active Hopkins River EstuaryWatchers

The Hopkins River Estuary is a wave dominated, seasonally closed, salt wedge estuary. The estuary is approximately 9.5km long, covers an area of approximately 1.6 km2 and has a total volume of 3,100 ML. It is confined by a rock walled canyon for much of its length, and is formed in a drowned river valley. In geological terms, the current form of the Hopkins River estuary is relatively young, forming around 6,000 years ago.

Map

Estuary Values

Estuary Threats
Recent Events
Event Details
23-05-2024 Unusual/Extraordinary occurrence!

Photos 1-3 flooding near Proudfoots By The River Restaurant

Photos 4-8 flooding at road from Warrnambool Ski club to boat ramp 

Photos  9&10 water height pole near boat ramp at Lyndoch

Photos 11-13 artificial opening photo taken from timber Hopkins river mouth viewing deck

14-10-2022 Water level

high water level @ Site 2 - River Boat Cruise pontoon, unable to do observations, due to water inflow up stream and high tides @ estuary mouth 

View all events

Sites

H1
Site one (Hopkins River Bridge)
Active Physico-Chemical 01-01-2000 - 17-01-2025
Ocean side of bridge, between the 29th and 30th post (counting from the western side of bridge) infront of the fishing ruler. Observations 170
H2
Site two (Riverboat Cruise Pontoon)
Active Physico-Chemical 11-07-2010 - 17-01-2025
Pontoon located on the ocean side of the Riverboat. This pontoon extends out into the river beyond the other pontoons. Observations 168
H3
Site three (Mahoneys Road)
Active Physico-Chemical N/A - 17-01-2025
Fishing pontoon located on the oceanside of the boat ramp. Monitoring is conducted off the end of the pontoon. Observations 171
H4
Site four (Jubilee Park)
Active Physico-Chemical 11-08-2010 - 17-01-2025
End of the floating pontoon located closest to the ocean, opposite the Hopkins River Caravan Park/ Jubilee Park. Observations 167
HGB
Hopkins River Water Level Gauge Board
Active Gauge Board
This sites water level monitoring gauge board is attached to the Simpson Street boat ramp.
HMC
Hopkins River Mouth Condition Observation Site
Active Mouth Condition 29-05-2010 - 20-10-2024

Site changed in September 2019 to Fluker Post WEPS1.

Previous location became overgrown.

Observations 175
Hp1
Hopkins River Photopoint Site One
Active Photopoint 06-12-2012 - 14-11-2024
Small cleared area located on the western side of the river mouth. Photos 431

Estuary Snapshots

Full estuary snapshots below use dates where samples at every active monitoring site were recorded. View full and partial snapshots

Summer 2025


Spring 2024


Winter 2024


Autumn 2024


Summer 2024


Spring 2023


Winter 2023


Autumn 2023


Summer 2023


Spring 2022


Winter 2022


Autumn 2022


Summer 2022


Spring 2021


Winter 2021


Autumn 2021


Summer 2021


Spring 2020


Winter 2020


Summer 2020


Mouth Condition Snapshots


Mouth Condition 20-10-2024 #16555



Mouth Condition 21-09-2024 #16554



Mouth Condition 17-08-2024 #16553



Mouth Condition 21-07-2024 #16552



Mouth Condition 22-06-2024 #16551



Mouth Condition 25-05-2024 #16221



Mouth Condition 19-04-2024 #16220




Mouth Condition 15-03-2024 #16219



Mouth Condition 16-02-2024 #16218




Mouth Condition 19-01-2024 #16217



Mouth Condition 15-12-2023 #16216




Mouth Condition 17-11-2023 #16215



Mouth Condition 20-10-2023 #15853



Mouth Condition 16-09-2023 #15852



Mouth Condition 20-08-2023 #15851



Mouth Condition 14-07-2023 #15850



Mouth Condition 17-06-2023 #15849



Mouth Condition 21-05-2023 #15848



Mouth Condition 18-04-2023 #15847



Mouth Condition 17-03-2023 #15846



Mouth Condition 17-02-2023 #15845



Mouth Condition 20-01-2023 #15844



Mouth Condition 14-12-2022 #15843



Mouth Condition 18-11-2022 #15842



Mouth Condition 16-10-2022 #15138



Mouth Condition 14-10-2022 #15137



Mouth Condition 18-09-2022 #15136



Mouth Condition 20-08-2022 #15135



Mouth Condition 16-07-2022 #14953



Mouth Condition 19-11-2021 #14826



Mouth Condition 15-10-2021 #14825



Mouth Condition 18-09-2021 #14824



Mouth Condition 20-08-2021 #14823



Mouth Condition 10-07-2021 #14822



Mouth Condition 19-06-2021 #14821



Mouth Condition 15-05-2021 #14820



Mouth Condition 17-04-2021 #14808



Mouth Condition 19-03-2021 #14807



Mouth Condition 19-02-2021 #14806



Mouth Condition 15-01-2021 #14805



Mouth Condition 18-12-2020 #14804



Mouth Condition 20-11-2020 #14803



Mouth Condition 16-10-2020 #14802



Mouth Condition 10-10-2020 #14801



Mouth Condition 28-09-2020 #14800



Mouth Condition 15-08-2020 #14799



Mouth Condition 18-07-2020 #14798





Mouth Condition 20-06-2020 #14797



Mouth Condition 17-05-2020 #14796



Mouth Condition 18-04-2020 #14792



Mouth Condition 20-03-2020 #14789



Mouth Condition 21-02-2020 #14788



Mouth Condition 17-01-2020 #14787