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 Smithfield Roundabout on the Captain Cook Highway is the departure point for Kuranda and the preferred route to the Atherton Tablelands and inland route to Cooktown.

To the North lie the northern beach retreats Trinity Beach and Palm Cove providing recreational pursuits for both visitors and locals alike. Just south of Smithfield is one of Tropical North Queensland's most successful tourist attractions: Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.