The world's largest ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2, steamed into Sydney harbour shortly after dawn.

The Cunard liner - on its maiden world cruise - was greeted by a flotilla of yachts, motor launches and even kayaks.

Huge crowds gathered to watch the 150,000-tonne ship make its way up the harbour.

The QM2 had to head for a naval base for docking because it was too large to berth at the usual terminal for ocean liners.

The liner's visit to Sydney coincided with that of her smaller and older sister ship, the Queen Elizabeth 2, which arrived later on Tuesday.

The original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth cruise ships met in Sydney in 1941 - when they were wartime troop carriers.

The Cunard meeting recallled a WWII encounter, when the original liners docked in Sydney as troop carriers.