Taylor Swift arrives in Melbourne ahead of first Aussie Eras Tour shows

Eager Swifties have been out in force to welcome Taylor Swift as the pop phenomenon landed in Melbourne ahead of the Aussie leg of her Eras Tour.

It was Swiftmania at Tullamarine as avid fans fought off sleep to eagerly await the pop superstar as she landed in Australia.

Officers from the Australian Federal Police were out in force, closely guarding the airport’s three exits as rugged up fans tracked the movements of Taylor Swift’s private jet until the early hours of Thursday morning.

The plane’s landing was met with rapturous applause from fans after the wheels of Swift’s silver private jet hit Melbourne soil just after 12.45am.

Taylor Swift’s private plane touches down in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The private jet arrived at Tullamarine Airport just after 12.45am Thursday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Swifties flocked to the Melbourne Jet Base at Tullamarine. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Swift and her team were whisked straight into a waiting car and into the private terminal, disappointing fans who hoped to catch a glimpse of the star in the flesh.

For those Swifties gathered at the jet base, however, simply being in the vicinity of their idol was a dream come true.

Swift will play three sold out shows at the MCG from February 16-18.

The star travelled to Australia fresh from watching her boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Eager youngsters get into position to catch a glimpse of their idol. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

They didn’t see her but Swifties can say they were in the same place at the same time as the songstress. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Young fans rugged up as Melbourne’s temperatures dropped. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It was the second long-haul flight for the 34-year-old in a matter of days, after Swift was rushed offstage at the end of her Tokyo concert to make it in time for the NFL kick off on Sunday (local time).

The Shake It Off singer is set to perform at three sold out shows at Melbourne’s MCG this weekend, with the first kicking off on Friday night, before heading to Sydney for four back-to-back sold-out concerts next weekend.

Airport staff appeared amused as the world’s biggest pop star landed in Melbourne. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Taylor Swift's flight en route from Honolulu to Melbourne. Picture: FlightRadar

Taylor Swift watched boyfriend Travis Kelce at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas with her celebrity friends: rapper Ice Spice and actress Blake Lively. Picture: Getty Images

The couple sealed the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win with a public display of affection. Picture: Getty Images

Her mammoth three hour-plus concerts are expected to include 44 tracks from her career-spanning retrospective including Lover, Cruel Summer, Fearless, Love Story, 22, Cardigan, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and … Ready For It?

Aussie fans are hoping the hit maker will play one of the tracks from her newly-announced The Tortured Poets Department album during the Melbourne and Sydney shows.

Originally published as Taylor Swift arrives in Melbourne ahead of first Aussie Eras Tour shows