The exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has arrived in Melbourne to a large and colourful greeting party.

Many of his devotees wore traditional Tibetan clothing or monk's robes and waved flags.

Gifts were offered to the former Nobel prize winner as he descended his plane from New Zealand.

Security was tight for the man China has previously characterised as a "dangerous separatist".

At one point, a child's unattended school bag caused Federal Police officers to swoop.

The boy sheepishly reclaimed his bag and received a mild scolding for his troubles.

The Dalai Lama, 75, will spend 11 days in Australia, giving public lectures and meeting political leaders.

He will speak with the federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott and the Greens leader, Bob Brown, in Canberra next week.

But a meeting with Prime Minister, Julia Gillard is unlikely.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd turned down a meeting with the Dalai Lama in 2009.

Organisers of the trip say all those who lost family members in Queensland's floods and during Cyclone Yasi have been invited to meet the him.

It is the Buddhist leader's eighth trip to Australia and the last before he will step down as Tibet's defacto political leader to focus on spiritual affairs.