The Diary - part 1: Mariah touches down in NZ

South Korean fans may have caught a glimpse of Mariah Carey at Incheon International Airport last month, but Kiwi fans weren't so lucky. Photo /Getty

Mariah Carey jetted into Auckland under cover of darkness yesterday. Her private plane touched down at Auckland Airport about 5am. The 44-year-old flew straight across the Tasman after her Sydney gig. She spent much of the day holed up in her hotel suite.

The best-selling female artist of all time has brought her 3-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, and a huge entourage. Last week, court documents revealed a Mariah glam squad costs US$85,000 ($959,650) for a mere photo shoot.

The legendary diva, who has a five-octave vocal range, plays one show at Vector Arena tomorrow night, then flies back to Oz to wrap up the Elusive Chanteuse Show world tour at a Brisbane winery.

With three days in Auckland before the gig, how will Mariah keep the kids entertained? In Oz, she did a spot of early Christmas shopping with her daughter, and the trio went to the zoo where they cuddled a koala and patted a kangaroo. Maybe the penguins at Kelly Tarlton's will entice.

No sign, however, of baby daddy Nick Cannon, with whom Carey has acrimoniously split after six years of marriage. Her thigh-skimming skirts and cleavage-baring gowns raised eyebrows - and headlines - in Oz. She's evidently back on the market. Could Kiwi love be on the cards?