The Shire of Nillumbik is located less than 25 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, and has the Yarra River as its southern boundary. It extends 29 kilometres to Kinglake National Park in the north. The Shire stretches approximately 20 kilometres from the Plenty River and Yan Yean Road in the west to Christmas Hills and the Yarra escarpment in the east.

The Shire covers an area of 431.94 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 60,623 who live in close-knit communities which range from typical urban settings to remote and tranquil bush properties.

Areas and townships of the Shire of Nillumbik:

Arthurs Creek
Bend of Islands
Christmas Hills
Cottles Bridge
Diamond Creek
Doreen
Eltham
Eltham North
Hurstbridge
Kangaroo Ground
North Warrandyte
Panton Hill
Plenty
Research
Smiths Gully
St Andrews
Watsons Creek
Wattle Glen
Yarrambat

There is also over 300 hectares of nature and recreation reserves, which does not include some areas of the Kinglake National Park in the north of the Shire.

In 2008, the Victorian Electoral Commission conducted a review of the Shire's ward boundaries which resulted in a reduction of the number of wards, from nine to seven. An election was held in November 2008.

The wards and elected representatives are:

Blue Lake Ward - Cr Belinda Clarkson
Bunjil Ward - Cr Lewis Brock
Edendale Ward - Cr Michael Young
Ellis Ward - Cr Peter Perkins
Sugarloaf Ward - Cr Ken King
Swipers Gully Ward - Cr Chris Chapple
Wingrove Ward - Cr Helen Coleman

This current Council serves until October 2012.