The visit is the first by President Obama and his family, and marks the 70th anniversary of the Australia-US relationship.

Geoff Gray, Executive Director of AAA Ltd said, "the Association looks forward to the recognition of 70 years of close relationship between our two countries. We have been working at the community level to foster the relationship for the last 62 years."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the President and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would  discuss issues including "global economic recovery, clean energy and climate change, nonproliferation and Afghanistan."

Mr Obama was invited to visit Australia by Mr Rudd when he visited Washington in late November.

The President and his family will also visit Indonesia, where he spent a number of years.