Oprah whisked away on arrival in Sydney

Oprah Winfrey has flown into Sydney for a private party ahead of her shows to be staged at the Sydney Opera House next week.

Wearing an Akubra hat, the US talkshow queen was greeted on the tarmac and ushered into a waiting car by local VIPs after touching down at Sydney Airport on Saturday.

She was to attend a private cocktail party at the Royal Botanic Gardens on Saturday night to be attended by guests including Premier Kristina Keneally.

Fairfax newspapers said 2003 Australian Idol Guy Sebastian would be singing at the event, with the styling to be organised by celebrity cookbook author Donna Hay.

Oprah is scheduled to film two episodes of her show at the Sydney Opera House next week.

She was in Melbourne on Friday where thousands of fans, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard, greeted her in Federation Square.

- AAP