Before dawn on the 25th of April, thousands stand in silence on a quiet Turkish beach, waiting for the light. For Australians and New Zealanders, no journey is more meaningful than the pilgrimage to Gallipoli.
Some journeys are holidays; this one is a pilgrimage. Each year, Australians, New Zealanders and Turks gather on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula to remember the soldiers who fought and died here in 1915. For the descendants of the ANZACs — the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps — standing on this ground on ANZAC Day is one of the most profound experiences of their lives. And what makes it uniquely moving is the friendship that has grown between former enemies.
The Dawn Service at Anzac Cove
The heart of the pilgrimage is the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove on 25 April. In the cold darkness before sunrise, thousands sit on the very beach where the landings took place, wrapped in blankets, waiting for first light over the Aegean. As the sun rises, the Last Post sounds across the water and a deep silence falls. It is impossible to describe and impossible to forget.
Battlefields, Trenches and Memorials
Beyond the service, the peninsula is a vast open-air memorial. You can walk the ridges of Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair, see the trenches that in places lay only metres apart, and visit beautifully kept cemeteries where headstones bear the ages of impossibly young men. Turkish, Australian, New Zealand, British and French memorials stand side by side across the landscape.
Atatürk’s Words of Peace
What transforms Gallipoli from a place of grief into one of reconciliation are the famous words attributed to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, addressed to grieving mothers abroad: “Those heroes that shed their blood... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us... You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace.” Few words in history have done more to heal.
Planning Your Gallipoli Journey
Most visitors reach Gallipoli via the town of Çanakkale or from Istanbul, and it pairs naturally with the ruins of ancient Troy across the strait. For ANZAC Day itself, book well in advance. We can arrange respectful, well-guided pilgrimages — see our tours or plan a custom journey of remembrance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is ANZAC Day at Gallipoli?
ANZAC Day is commemorated on 25 April each year, marking the 1915 landings. The famous Dawn Service is held at Anzac Cove in the early hours of that morning, followed by services at the Australian and New Zealand memorials.
How do I get to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day?
Most visitors travel via the town of Çanakkale or on organised tours from Istanbul. For ANZAC Day itself, accommodation and places fill up far in advance, so booking a guided pilgrimage early is strongly recommended.
Why is Gallipoli so meaningful to Australians and New Zealanders?
The 1915 Gallipoli campaign is seen as a defining moment in the national identity of both Australia and New Zealand. Combined with the reconciliation and friendship shown by Turkey — embodied in Atatürk’s words of peace — it makes the pilgrimage deeply moving.
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