Mike Pence Cairns visit: City under lock down as US Vice President arrives

United States vice president Mike Pence has landed in Queensland before he heads to Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea.

With US President Donald Trump not attending, Vice President Pence - who will be staying in Cairns and flying into PNG daily - will underline Australia's role in the Indo-Pacific and call for greater economic development to bring prosperity to the region.

Other world leaders, like Canada's Justin Trudeau, will stay in Port Moresby.

Sections of Cairns are in lockdown, with the US Secret Service effectively taking control in Far North Queensland before Mr Pence's arrival.

Mr Trumps' right-hand-man is staying in Cairns for security reasons — and that heightened security was on show yesterday.

Even before the Vice President's large motorcade escorted him to the Cairns Hilton, Queensland Police had it under guard.

Meanwhile, Mr Pence's security detail was conducting checks around the hotel — with local police also patrolling the area.

Queensland water police are guarding the harbour.

The tight security came as Cairns Airport staff conducted frantic last-minute meetings, with the White House believed to have changed the Vice President's arrival time.

It remains unclear how long the US delegation will remain in Queensland.