In terms of natural regions it belongs to the Lower Saxon Hills and borders on the Calenberg Loess Börde in the north and east.

The districts of Hildesheim and Hameln-Pyrmont and the region of Hanover meet near the Triangular Rock (Dreieckiger Stein) not far from the Shepherd's Hut (Sennhütte).

The Osterwald spreads southeast of the valley of the Gehlenbach and Gelbbach streams, through which the state road (the Landesstraße 422) runs from Coppenbrügge in the southwest to Eldagsen.

On the eastern side of the Osterwald, behind the large, former monastic estate, lies Wülfinghausen Abbey, founded in the 12th century.

The site is located in a strategically favourable position, because two sides are naturally protected by steep, rock faces and slopes.