Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak lines up to buy iPhone 5

Australian Apple fans’ long wait to be the first in the world to buy the newly iPhone 5 was well worth it, after Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of the tech firm, surprised locals by showing up outside a Queensland store.

Apple-co-founder-Steve-Wozniak-Reuters-David-McNew

Australian Apple fans' long wait to be the first in the world to buy the newly iPhone 5 was well worth it, after Steve Wozniak, one of the founders of the tech firm, surprised locals by showing up outside a Queensland store.

Apple Staff outside the Apple store whistled and cheered as Wozniak mingled with customers and appeared to sign autographs.

According to telegraph.com.au, fans who had spent long hours waiting for the world-first release in Australia of the bigger, faster iPhone 5 handset, beamed as they exited the Apple store clutching white bags with their new most treasured possession inside.

"I'm so excited because I've been waiting for a long time," the report quoted a 27-year-old customer, as saying.

According to the report, hundreds camped out at the Apple Sydney store, with some having begun queuing yesterday afternoon.

The iPhone 5 launch comes after Apple faced growing criticism from users who complained that its new mapping system is riddled with errors.

A day after the new system was released, users from countries including the United States, Britain, China, France and Japan protested that the new maps misplace some landmarks and leave others off altogether.