The eponymous Nouvelle River (French meaning new) has its source in the Notre Dame Mountains and is long. It flows in a southerly direction through the middle of the territory until the Municipality of Nouvelle where its course changes to the south-east before emptying in Chaleur Bay. While its current name has been in use since the 17th century, the Mi'kmaq people called it Tlapatantjitjg, meaning potatoes (used metaphorically because of its rocky bottom).