Barack Obama touches down in Sydney

Former US president Barack Obama has touched down in Australia for a private speaking engagement.

He arrived at Sydney Airport at lunchtime on Friday ahead of an event at the Art Gallery of NSW hosted by the New Zealand United States Council.

A motorcade of vans, SUVs and more than a dozen police motorbikes, transported Mr Obama from the airport to a hotel in Sydney's CBD.

The former president touched down in Sydney around 1.20pm Friday. Source: 7 News
The former president touched down in Sydney around 1.20pm Friday. Source: 7 News


Police helicopters swirled above the building as he was driven into it.

Mr Obama flew in from New Zealand where he met Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former leader John Key.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Thursday said he was due to "catch up and have a chat" with the former US president who's on a week-long tour of New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and Japan.