More of a suburb than a separate entity, Smithfield is 4.5 kilometres north of Cairns on the Captain Cook Highway and is part of the growth story of Cairns over recent years. Its centre, like most urban developments, revolves around the large shopping centre with its key anchor tenants and specialty stores.

On the eastern side of the highway, commercial developments have mushroomed as have fast food outlets.

The Palms Golf Course and the beach retreats such as Trinity, Yorkey's Knob, Machans, Holloways and Palm Cove provide recreational pursuits for both visitors and locals alike.Just south of Smithfield is home to two of Tropical North Queensland's biggest and most successful tourist attractions: Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park and Skyrail.