 Rothwell is in the west of the Redcliffe peninsula, approximately north-northeast of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland.The suburb is bounded to the north by the bay of Deception Bay (part of Moreton Bay), to the east in part by Nathan Road, and to the south and south-west by Saltwater Creek.Anzac Avenue enters the suburb from the east (Kippa-Ring) and proceeds west, where at a large round-about () Anzac Avenue continues to the south-west exiting to Mango Hill, while Deception Bay Road heads north-west exiting to the suburb of Deception Bay.The Redcliffe Peninula railway line enters the suburb from the east (Kippa-Ring) and exits to the south (Mango Hill), connecting to the North Coast railway line at Petrie.