The headwaters of the South Pine River are steep, flow through the D’Aguilar National Park, and receive high rainfall over fractured metamorphic rocks. The lower reaches are underlain by impervious rocks, sedimentary rocks and unconsolidated sediments, with large areas of alluvium upstream of the confluence with the North Pine River. Surface water runoff is high and creek flow is fast.
The headwaters within D’Aguilar National Park and Samford Conservation Park are still largely vegetated, and rainforests and scrubs (including sub-tropical lowland rainforest) remain along much of the main channel. Most other areas have been cleared for urban and rural residential, together with associated services and recreation, grazing on native pastures, horticulture, manufacturing and industry, turf farming and mining (part of four gravel and sand Key Resource Areas).
The South Pine River sub-catchment is one of the few remaining sub-catchments in South east Queensland that does not have any major barrier to water movement (no dam).
Tidal water in the river typically extends to Strathpine Road (Pine Rivers Park/Lawnton Park).