In its upper reaches, the Bombala River is crossed by the Snowy Mountains Highway near Brown Mountain; while the Monaro Highway crosses the meandering river at several locations north of Bombala.[3]
The name of the river is derived from the Aboriginal word meaning "meeting of the water",[1] presumably referring to the confluence of the Bombala River with the Coolumbooka River, at Bombala; and the confluence with the Undowah River, a few kilometers upstream.[3]