The Thornton boat ramp sits on the western bank of the Rangitāiki River estuary, roughly 12 kilometres west-northwest of the Whakatāne River entrance.

The site is managed by Whakatāne District Council and features a double-width boat ramp, a timber wharf and jetty area, a dedicated waka ama launching ramp with associated storage, and car and trailer parking.

The river entrance at Thornton is typically narrow, flanked by a sandspit on the western side and a rock rip-rap training wall on the eastern side, opening into a wide estuary upstream. The ramp is accessed via Thornton Beach Road.