By Elle Butler
Gallipoli, located in modern-day Turkey, holds a special significance for Australians and New Zealanders as the site of a major military campaign during World War I. ANZAC Day, which is celebrated on April 25th, marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops, known as ANZACs, on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
Visiting Gallipoli on ANZAC Day is an opportunity to pay respects to the soldiers who lost their lives during the campaign and to learn more about the important role that the ANZACs played in shaping the national identity of Australia and New Zealand.
One of the best ways to experience Gallipoli is to attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Australian Memorial at ANZAC Cove. This service, which begins at 4:30am, is a solemn and moving ceremony that includes speeches, the laying of wreaths, and the playing of the last post. It’s a powerful experience to stand on the same beach where the ANZACs landed more than 100 years ago, and to be surrounded by people from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey, who come to pay their respects.
Another must-see attraction is the Lone Pine Australian Memorial, which marks the site of the Battle of Lone Pine. Here, you can learn more about the campaign and see the names of over 4,000 Australians who died at Gallipoli and have no known grave. The memorial also features an interpretive centre, which provides valuable information about the events that took place at Gallipoli and their significance in Australian and New Zealand history.
For a panoramic view of the battlefields, you can climb the hill at Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. It is a steep climb, but you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Gallipoli Peninsula, including the Dardanelles Strait, the site of the ANZAC landing, and the surrounding hills, which played an important role in the campaign. The New Zealand Memorial also honours the more than 2,700 New Zealand soldiers who died at Gallipoli and have no known grave.
We recommend visiting the Turkish Memorial, located at the top of the hill at Chunuk Bair. This memorial pays tribute to the Turkish soldiers who fought and died during the Gallipoli campaign and serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.
It is also worth visiting the village of Eceabat, located on the shore of the Dardanelles Strait opposite of Gallipoli Peninsula. This is a great base for exploring the area, as it offers several hotels and restaurants, as well as ferries to the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Visiting Gallipoli on ANZAC Day is a moving and meaningful experience that offers a powerful connection to the past and an opportunity to pay respects to the soldiers who lost their lives during the campaign. While the campaign was ultimately a defeat for the ANZACs, the spirit of the ANZACs lives on and is honoured every year on ANZAC Day. Remembering their sacrifice and legacy, visiting Gallipoli is an important way to understand and appreciate the role that Australia and New Zealand have played in shaping world history.
