The headline act is still on her way from the US, but 110 of Oprah’s guests, who landed in Sydney on Tuesday and were welcomed at their hotel by Aboriginal dancers, will start three days of shopping, penguin spotting and wine tastings in “the place to be”.
The Victorian leg of the tour will culminate at Federation Square on Friday with a meeting between the talk show queen and PM Julia Gillard in front of up to 80,000 fans.
But the dozens of government agencies and tourism operators involved have been forced to sign a confidentiality agreement that binds them to secrecy about the tour until Oprah’s two Australian shows are broadcast in January.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Victorian venture includes:
VISITS to Melbourne Zoo and the penguin colonies on Phillip Island.
DAWN balloon flights over the city and tram rides along its streets.
SHOPPING excursions.
A COCKTAIL party in the Block Arcade.
A VISIT to a winery in the Yarra Valley.
As Oprah’s 300 guests begin speading out over Australia, secrecy still surrounded her touchdown.
Sources at production company Harpo confirmed she would make her only official public appearance at Fed Square on Friday.