The central and north-eastern parts of the locality are mostly low-lying land (10–20 metres above sea level) and well-watered by a number of minor creeks.

The south-western part of the locality is mountainous including Mount Ossa (270 metres) from which the town takes its name.

At the town, the highway has a junction with the Mount Ossa Seaforth Road which exits the locality in the north-east.

About one kilometre north-west of the town, the highway has another junction with the Mirani Mount Ossa Road which exits the locality in the south-west.

The North Coast railway line also traverses the locality from south-east to west roughly parallel and north-east relative to the highway.