Later, at their second show, the idols were saved from inundation by 30 policemen.
Dunedin's B (for Beatle) Day began quietly, with a restrained crowd of about 400 to welcome them as they stepped from Flight 491 which touched down at Momona 35 minutes late after a take-off delay - a wait for the group - at Auckland.
Paul McCartney emerged first, cried "Yeah," and waved at the almost silent crowd.
They entered a car waiting on the tarmac and drove off without ceremony.
Three car-loads of police, sundry traffic officers and three police dogs looked on, not required.
The luckiest children in Otago were the pupils of Momona School, who were allowed out to see the Beatles go past.
Though things were quiet at the airport, the air was charged with hysteria when screaming followers welcomed the Beatles at City Hotel.
The front rank of the 2,000 strong crowd surged forward, brushing policemen aside, when the cars pulled up at the main entrance.
One girl fainted and was rescued by two men, and policemen's helmets went flying as a barrier cracked.
It took police 10 minutes to force a narrow passage through the mass. The Beatles were quickly hustled to safety.
The crowd started up an urgent chant of "we want the Beatles." They were not disappointed and the quartet emerged to deafening screams.
Paul McCartney was later critical of the police handling of the crowds in Princes Street.
"The police were obviously not very well organised," he said. "They should have kept the crowds back and left us a bigger gap to get from the car into the hotel."