Aussie PM's wife charms Kiwi kids

Queenstown was the real star of the show when Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his "baby whisperer" wife Lucy touched down at the resort's airport this morning.

The embattled prime minister, who is spending 24 hours in the resort for his bilateral meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English, arrived after a three hour flight from Canberra to a glorious, cloudless Queenstown day.

Mr Turnbull was greeted off the plane by Mr English and his wife Mary and Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult and his wife Karen.

The first event was a wreath-laying ceremony at Arrowtown's picturesque war memorial at noon.

The prime ministers will have a sit-down meeting at the Hilton hotel next before a series of meetings this afternoon which will include the two countries' finance ministers, Steven Joyce (NZ) and Scott Morrison.



While her husband spoke to veterans after the formalities, Mrs Turnbull joined Mary English to speak to children from the Arrowtown preschool, who have been learning about the Anzacs.

"We're so happy to meet you all," she said.

The four-year-olds had been busy at the river before seeing the special guests.

"You're very lucky to live here kids," Mrs Turnbull told them.

"I think it's one of the most beautiful places in the world."

Last time the Turnbulls were holidaying in Queenstown, they rode their bikes to Arrowtown.

As the Prime Ministers and thier wives headed back down the hill dotted with white crosses on Friday, the pair met local councillor Scott Stevens and his four-month-old daughter, Ida - dubbed the next mayoress.

"Lucy is a well-known baby whisperer," Mr Turnbull said.

"(Are) your services available for babysitting?" Mr Stevens asked.

"What are you up to tonight?"

But the offer, sadly, could not be accepted.

"A little bit busy tonight, but you're very kind," Mrs Turnbull said.

The couple will enjoy a pre-dinner cruise aboard a luxury yacht before a private function on Friday.

Mr Turnbull extended his own offer to Mr English before they got into waiting cars, inviting him to Sydney for a harbour kayak ride. The prime minister took Mr English's predecessor John Key for a paddle during last year's so-called "pyjama diplomacy" meeting.

The view as the sun rises near South Head was "cosmic", Mr Turnbull said.

Additional reporting by AAP


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