12 Dec 2010

Oprah parties in Sydney

1:26 pm on 12 December 2010

Oprah Winfrey partied on Saturday night in Sydney at a harbourside soiree hosted by New South Wales Premier Kristina Kenneally.

The party featured live music from Guy Sebastian and a spectacular fireworks display over the water which culminated in the lighting of a red 'O' on the harbour bridge.

Also present were her 302 travelling fans from the United States.

Wearing a colourful Camilla Franks gown, Oprah said she felt instantly welcomed by Sydney.

She cajoled the crowd into posing for a mass photograph against the backdrop of the Sydney opera house, where two episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show will be recorded on Tuesday.

Since arriving on Wednesday, her fans have visited a variety of tourist destinations to help promote Australia to a worldwide audience, mainly the American market.

Ms Kenneally said the opera house will be transformed over four days into "Sydney Oprah House".

The Oprah Winfrey Show is wrapping up its 25th season ahead of Winfrey, 56, launching her own cable network, The Oprah Winfrey Network, on 1 January.

Federal and state tourism agencies in Australia paid $2.3 million to bring her Down Under.