U.S. President Barack Obama is due to arrive in Canberra mid-afternoon Wednesday for a day-and-a-half visit that aims to renew the world superpower's economic and military influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The itinerary highlight of Obama, the fifth serving U.S. leader to land in Australian shore, will be a visit Thursday to a military base in Darwin, where he will announce the stationing of more U.S. Marines in the country and conduct of more joint war games.

Obama will also speak before the Federal Parliament and lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial on Thursday before his Darwin trip at 1 p.m.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Obama will hold a joint press conference at the Parliament House shortly after his arrival at the Fairbairn RAAF base around 2:30 p.m. Gillard will then host a formal dinner for the U.S. leader, state premiers, lawmakers, diplomats and businessmen.

It will be the second meeting between Gillard and Obama in three days. Both attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Canberra will be virtually locked down Wednesday as 200 Secret Service agents will guard Obama, 20 police cars will protect his motorcade and Super Hornets providing aerial cover. Roads leading to the Parliament House will be temporarily closed and tourists will not be allowed.

Obama's bid to strengthen the defense ties of the two countries comes amid a growing naval posturing by Beijing in the South China Sea to assert Chinese sovereignty over territorial waters also being claimed by its neighbors.

His visit also coincides with the 60th year of a defence alliance, the ANZUS pact.

The Australia-U.S. alliance dates back to World War II, when American and Australian troops fought side by side against the Japanese Imperial Army.