[9] The Stratford District takes in about one quarter of the Taranaki Region, and includes four major geological features: the Taranaki volcanic cone, its associated ring plain, the Pātea River catchment, and the eastern hill country.

On the south-eastern face of the mountain, Manaia Road provides access to Dawson Falls and the Konini Lodge, at 890 m (2,920 ft) altitude.

The Taranaki volcanic ring plain provides a steady contour with a subtle gradient, upon which Stratford and its environs have been settled.

The river then takes in the expansive eastern hill country catchments of the Toko, Makuri, Mangaehu, Mangaotuku, Puniwhakau and Makahu Streams, before winding its way southwards through the hills of the South Taranaki district, to its mouth at Patea.

Beyond Stratford, the district extends approximately 45 km (28 mi) to the east, between the Waitara River to the north and the Matemateāonga Range to the south, with the Whanganui River and Heao Stream constituting much of the district's eastern boundary.

This area is dominated by steep sandstone, greywacke and mudstone hills and winding valleys.

However, to the north, the district takes in Waitara River and its tributaries, including the Makara, Makino, Matau, Mangapapa and Mangaowata catchments.

At its northernmost point, the district also includes the Mt Damper Stream and its associated swamp and falls, which feed into the Tongaporutu River.

Cardiff, Mahoe, Rowan and Pembroke are beneath the mountain to the west, and Wharehuia, Tuna, Te Popo and Kupe are to the north-east.

To the east, along State Highway 43 and the Stratford-Okahukura railway, lie settlements that in their heyday were bustling villages.

Toko and the renowned Whangamōmona have retained their character as villages, while the settlements of Douglas, Strathmore, Huiakama, Te Wera, Pohokura, Marco, Kohuratahi and Tahora now consist of no more than a few houses.

Damper are to the north and west of the highway, and Huinga, Tututawa, Puniwhakau, Makahu, Aotuhia and Tangarakau are to the south and east.

The Egmont Ring Plain provides steady contours and fertile volcanic soils which, together with the high level of rainfall, make for some of the best dairy country in New Zealand.

Recent years have seen the consolidation of a large number of schools into these seven schools: Stratford is a member of the Stratford Sister Cities program, which was created to promote friendship and cultural exchange between participating countries.