Doreen is unusual in that it can be divided into two smaller areas; Yan Yean Road being the divider.

The eastern portion lies within the Shire of Nillumbik and remains rural, being contiguous with the rural localities of Yarrambat and Nutfield.
The western portion lies within the City of Whittlesea and has seen the development of suburban housing and facilities. It is contiguous with the suburbs of Mernda and South Morang.
Residential development over the last two decades has provided numerous estates with the notable first being Laurimar, in the north, developed by Delfin, with an emphasis on “semi-rural” living.

Doreen is very green and quite hilly and is surrounded by the foothills of the Yarra Ranges to the east and north and the forested banks of the Plenty River to the west. As part of it being on the urban fringe it has a wide variety of animal life including bird life. To the north is Yan Yean Reservoir, which is the oldest reservoir in Melbourne.