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excursion included in most tours, would visit Lone Pine, the Australian
Memorial, Chunuk Bair, the New Zealand memorial, Anzac Cove,
Johnston’s Jolly, the original trenches and tunnels and the Nek. It is also
possible to take a tour that includes a cruise along the coastline for a sea
perspective of the Gallipoli landings.
Anzac Day at the Cove for ‘Ballot Holders’ only
For Anzac Day commemorations, your tour would normally visit the
battlefields area on the 23rd April, taking the ferry ride across the
Dardanelles to Çanakkale for a 2 night stay. On the 24th April, you
may attend the international service at the Turkish memorial or the
Commonwealth Service, with a visit to Troy, returning to Çanakkale for
an afternoon of rest before being taken back to Anzac Cove late that
same evening to find your spot at the site of the Dawn Service. There are
locals with food and beverage services, entertainment, and the area soon
becomes a sea of the thousands who have made the pilgrimage, warmly
wrapped up in sleeping bags, waiting for the Dawn Service.
For special Commemoration services, such as this 100th commemoration,
there are special ‘ballots’ for those who are descendants; therefore it is
not possible to visit Anzac Cove without this invitation. Ballot holders can
join tours that include the service, but those who do not hold ballot tickets
for the 25th April must visit at another time.
This year there are also special cruise ships charters. Azamara Journey
is one of the ships that will be moored overnight, and those with ballot
invitations will be tendered to Anzac Cove for the Dawn Service. A special
remembrance service will be held on board for non-ballot holders, and
Dame Malvina Major will feature. What a fantastic atmosphere there will
be, being moored near the landing beaches on that day!
Turkey – well worth a visit
Turkey is a country of huge historical sweep, filled with architecture
and monuments from the Roman and Ottoman Empires. It is a place of
amazing beauty, with underground cities, incredible rock formations and
the stunning calcium terraces of Pammukale with its healing waters.
So whilst your pilgrimage may be to Gallipoli, ensure you take in the
many other sights of this amazing country. Or, if you think you are only
interested in the history of Turkey, make sure you allow time to visit
Gallipoli, because you will find in you, a heap of hidden emotion.
Left, the New Zealand monument at Chunuk
Bair, the site of a major battle.
Previous page, the cemetary at Ari Burnu,
above the first landing spot of the ANZAC
forces that early morning of April 25. This is
where the ceremonies were held initially, but
due to increase in attendees, had to be moved
to a larger and more theatrical space complete
with seating, stage lighting and sound.
This year it is estimated that 10,500 will arrive
the night before and rough out the cold and
rain for the early morning ceremony.
Audience seating ready for the arrival
of pilgrims to the April 25 services as
the Sphinx of Walker Ridge looks on,
knowingly.
Monett Johnston,Travel Director at Travel Options in Whitianga can help you with
all your travel arrangments. Contact her at 07 866 4397.
Photos of the Anzac Cove monuments and cemetery were contributed by Lisa
Rademacher of Auckland, who wrote a moving blog when visiting the area last year.
She will return to Turkey and hopes to get into this year’s ceremony.
Read her descriptive blog and see many more photos at
Search YouTube for videos of the
dramatic dawn ceremony.
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