The river rises at the junction of the southern slopes of the
Great Dividing Range and the
Ben Lomond Range, near
Llangothlin, and flows generally south and southeast, joined by four minor tributaries, until the river reaches a junction with Salisbury Waters within
Oxley Wild Rivers National Park and descends to its
confluence with the
Macleay River, below Blue Nobby Mountain, south east of
Armidale. The river descends over its
course and is impounded by Guyra Dam and Malpas Reservoir. In its lower reaches, the Gara River is transversed by the
Waterfall Way. ==See also==