Oprah Winfrey Lands Down Under

The wait is finally over. The queen of day time TV Oprah Winfrey has finally touched down in Australia. Wasting no time as she meets and greets the local wildlife—one of Australia's most iconic animals the cute and cuddly koala. Our local correspondent has the latest on Oprah's first moves.

Ranked the world's most powerful celebrity by Forbes magazine, Oprah Winfrey made the idyllic Hamilton Island, off Queensland's coastline, the first stop on her eight-day "Ultimate Australian Adventure." An adventure that in terms of planning has been one year in the making.

[Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Queen]:
"That it's worth the trip. Yes. It's a long trip but it's worth the trip. The friendliest, are you kidding?"

Oprah beaming radiance stepped out in a bright yellow blouse en route to the wildlife park. The talk show queen was greeted by one of the country's best-known animals, the Koala.

Later Oprah, accompanied by her long time friend Gayle King, took her private jet in to the heart of the Australian outback, to see the world's largest monolith, Ayers Rock— the country's most famous natural landmark and an Aboriginal sacred site.

To celebrate its farewell season Oprah and her show are down under to film two episodes at the Sydney Opera House next week. The episodes will be aired in early 2011. The celebrity brought 300 guests with her from the United States, to sample the sights, sounds and tastes that this land has to offer.

Robert Apicella, NTD News, Australia.