Anzac Day Tips

Preparing to attend ANZAC Day commemorations:

Anzac Day Tips; You should have a moderate level of fitness if you plan to attend the ANZAC Day commemorations in gallpoli.To attend the services you can expect to walk up to 8 kms on uneven surfaces.  The walk from the Dawn Service to Lone Pine where the Australian service is held as next service is approximately 3 kms and includes a section of 1.5 kms of uneven dirt surface with a steep incline.  The walk from Lone Pine to Chunuk Bair to join the New Zealand service will be is 3.2 kms up a steep bitumen surfaced road.

What to expect on ANZAC day in Gallipoli is;

All commemorative services are held in a National Park.

You will arrive in the late afternoon or at night when it may be extremely cold and windy, and it may rain.

You can expect to be on site upto 24 hours.

There is no shelter at any of the commemorative sites or within the ANZAC area.

Warm and wet weather protective clothing, as well as a hat/cap and sunscreen are necessary to ensure your wellbeing and comfort at the ceremonies.

You will walk considerable distances from the time of your arrival to attend the services until your departure from the ANZAC area - these walks are uphill including on graded dirt surfaces. You must have a moderate level of fitness and mobility to walk these distances.

Food and refreshments are available for purchase from the Turkish food sellers on site.  You may bring in your own food. Alcohol is NOT allowed at the commemorations and will be confiscated.

Limited basic facilities including toilets, lighting and non-drinking water are brought in to the commemorative sites for the ANZAC Day commemorations on 24 and 25 April.

Swimming in the waters off the ANZAC area is prohibited.

Packing for ANZAC Day in Gallpoli:

Participants of ANZAC Day with special needs are asked to ensure they are prepared to spend a night out in the cold and bring warm clothing, coat, gloves, hat, scarf and a blanket as a minimum.  There is no access to coaches after arrival, so everything you need during the evening and next day must be brought with you including medications.You may bring the things below and a small day pack may be useful to carry these items.

Warm, thermal clothing, jacket, beanie, hat or cap, gloves, scarf

Warm blanket (some of local agencies supply for you)

A wet weather jacket & pants, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes

Prescription medications (if necessary)

Food/snacks and drinking water

Sunscreen, torch Camera

We do not suggest to bring following itmes:

Items are prohibited in the commemorative areas. These items MUST be left on your coach/hotel.  All visitors to the commemorative services are screened on entry to the sites and all bags are searched before Dawn Service.

Alcohol (Intoxicated persons will be refused entry)

Large backpacks (luggage sized)

Camping equipment

Flammable liquids and weapons or sharp objects

Getting There for Dawn Service:

We do not suggest you to drive a private car to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day services. However, depending on the location of the parking area designated by Turkish authorities, visitors travelling by private vehicle may have to walk several kilometres along unlit or poorly lit roads before reaching the ANZAC Commemorative Site.  People may travel to the commemorations in private motor vehicles.  Private vehicles are prohibited from travelling to the Lone Pine, 57th Regiment Memorial or Chunuk Bair commemorative sites.People generally travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula by coach or minibus as part of a tour group.  Several kilometres from the ANZAC Commemorative Site, coaches and their passengers are welcomed by a member of the visitor services team and issued with coach identification information - a Coach Identification Number and individual tags for each passenger with their coach number on it.  This will help you to identify your coach at the end of the day.

Coaches set down their passengers at Beach Cemetery for Dawn service. It is about one kilometre (15 minutes walk) from the ANZAC Commemorative Site where the Dawn Service is held. You will pass through a security screening point before entering the site, then walk approximately ½ kilometre to the ceremonial area. On passing the security checkpoint at the ANZAC Commemorative Site, all visitors will be given a security wristband.  This wristband MUST be worn on the wrist until you leave the Gallipoli Historical National Park at the conclusion of the services.

Your coach will leave you on beach cemetery and they will be directed to set down area Chunuk Bair to be in line until after all commemorative services are completed on the afternoon of 25 April. When you disembark from your coach ensure you have everything you will need during the evening and next day, including medication.  To assist with security screening we suggest that keys, phones and coins are placed in your day pack or bag. You will not be able to go back to your coach if you forget anything or to return items that are prohibited on site.

Seating at the commemorative sites is available on grassed areas & in stands but cannot be reserved.  Once open on 24 April, the ANZAC Commemorative Site fills quickly.  People may end up sitting very close to each other and, if the site reaches capacity, people will be asked to stand.  Large groups who arrive later may not be able to find room to be seated as a group and should be prepared to split up.

The commemorative services are open to the public. Those attending the Dawn Service at the ANZAC Commemorative Site may go on to attend the Australian Service at Lone Pine as second service, the Turkish 57th Regiment Service at the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial as third service or the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair as last service before getting back to bus. However, due to the walking distances and terrain between the commemorative sites and the number of visitors walking to each service it may not be possible to attend all four services. You should follow instructions issued by Turkish security personnel. Allow sufficient time to travel between the commemorative sites including time to pass through each site’s security checkpoint.

From Dawn Service to Lone Pine:

visitors walk along the ANZAC Cove Road and up Artillery Road to Lone Pine Cemetery for the 10:00am Australian Memorial Service From approximately 6:30am (after completion of the Dawn Service). This 3.1 kms walk takes visitors past the sites of Ari Burnu, Shrapnel Valley and Beach Cemeteries.  Shortly after Beach Cemetery, the route follows Artillery Road inland as it slopes uphill past Shell Green Cemetery to Lone Pine. Artillery Road is a dirt road and is steep and uneven in places.  In wet weather the road can be extremely difficult to walk.  The route is well signposted.  A moderate level of fitness is required.

From Lone Pine to Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial:

There is a short time to walk from Lone Pine to the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial service after the conclusion of the service at Lone Pine, a distance of 1.2 kms along an uphill bitumen road. The Turkish service starts at 11:15am, thirty minutes after the conclusion of the Lone Pine service.

From Lone Pine to Chunuk Bair:

The last service is The New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair commences at 12:30pm. The route slopes uphill past the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial (about 3.3 kms).  As you walk to Chunuk Bair, please respect the Turkish service in progress at the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial.  The walking time between Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

Site information in Gallipoli:

Seating:

Temporary tiered seating is available at the ANZAC Commemorative Site, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair for the ANZAC Day services.  Small areas of reserved seating are set aside for the official party and people requiring special assistance. Seating can not be reserved for visitors and tour groups.  There are no sheltered areas at any of the commemorative sites. Visitors are not allowed to have items touching or to lean against any headstones in the commemorative sites.

Toilets:

Temporary chemical toilets and hand washing facilities are available on 24 and 25 April at the ANZAC Commemorative Site, Lone Pine, Chunuk Bair and on the way between sites.  The water at these locations is not potable and must not be used as drinking water. Permanent toilets are only available at the Kabatepe Museum, which is some distance from the commemorative sites.

Power, Water and Refreshments:

Be sure you charge all your batteries needed on site. There is no running water, power or lighting except for that in use for the services.  Bottled water is available for purchase from Turkish vendors at each of the commemorative sites. Local Turkish food and drink vendors sell limited quantities of their products within the Gallipoli Park. Most of tour suppliers provide breakfast and lunch boxex to their clients. Please check the inclusions of your tour with your tour director.

Important: Selling and Consuming alcohol within the National Park are not permitted.  The ban on alcohol is strictly enforced. Alcohol brought on site will be confiscated and intoxicated people will be denied entry.

Rubbish:

Rubbish disposal facilities are provided on each site. Because of numbers of visitors it may be diffucult to get sufficient rubbish disposal facilities. Visitors are asked to dispose of rubbish thoughtfully or, where possible, take rubbish with them. All visitors to the Dawn Service are provided with a biodegradable rubbish bag (as part of an information kit). Additional rubbish bags are available from event staff.

Lost Property:

If you lose or find property during the commemorations, please take it to the information tent and notify event staff.  Following the commemorations, lost property enquiries can be directed to event staff wşth uniforms. Property is only retained for a month and is held in Turkey.  Arrangements for, and costs of, shipping are the responsibility of individuals claiming lost items.

Safety and security:

The Australian and New Zealand Embassies in Ankara and the Australian Consulate in Canakkale work closely with Turkish authorities who are responsible for security for the commemorations.Crowd control barriers are used as a means of directing public access and protecting the surrounding environment. Security and crowd management measures include a ban on lighting fires, restrictions on entry points, individual searches and site security.  Certain areas of the ANZAC Commemorative Site (including the beach and ceremonial area) will be inaccessible to members the public for extended periods on 24 April and 25 April.

Public announcements on the large screens, will provide instructions in the event of an ncident. Messages will be displayed as well. You While safety lighting is installed at the ANZAC Commemorative Site for the evening of 24 April and for the Dawn Service, visitors may wish to bring torches. For emergencies you get in touch with event staff or Turkish military staff. Basic first aid facilities are available from 3pm on 24 April and during the day on 25 April.

Traffic and crowd management:

Turkish Jandarma is responsible of the Management of traffic on the Gallipoli Peninsula.  The number of large vehicles on the narrow roads of the Gallipoli Peninsula during 24 and 25 April means that traffic restrictions must be strictly enforced. Visitors may arrive in private vehicles but they should be aware that designated parking areas may be several kilometres from the Dawn Service site, the walk from the parking area to the site may be along unlit or poorly lit roads, and private vehicles are prohibited from travelling between commemorative sites.  Those attending ANZAC Day services on the Gallipoli Peninsula should plan their visit accordingly.

Tour coaches will not be permitted to travel through the ANZAC Commemorative Site from the afternoon of 24 April in Gallipoli.  Coaches are stopped one kilometre from the site at the Beach Cemetery passenger set down point and visitors will be required to walk from there to the ANZAC Commemorative Site. Coaches will not commence the collection of passengers until after the conclusion of the Chunuk Bair service (at approximately 13:15 ) on 25 April. Coaches will collect passengers only from the commemorative sites.  Pick-up takes until 4 or 5pm for all coaches to pick up their passengers.Further information about traffic arrangements will be available and provided by the announcers on site.