Each year, thousands of Australians and New Zealanders of all ages
make the pilgrimage to Gallipoli to commemorate ANZAC Day.
The following information has been prepared to assist our TravelShop Turkey customers planning to attend the ANZAC Day services at Gallipoli. We are sure that your visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula will be a memorable one.
However, it is important for our ANZAC Day tour members to understand that limited facilities are available at the commemorative sites.
ANZAC Day commemorative services are held within the Gallipoli Historical National Park. The Park is subject to Turkish governmental regulations in keeping with its status as a National Park. The Dawn Service is held at the ANZAC Commemorative Site located within the ANZAC area.
ANZAC Day COMMEMORATIONS GALLIPOLI 2012
ANZAC Day services on the Gallipoli Peninsula are conducted by Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and France. Services are held on 24th and 25th April.
Sunday - 24th April 2012
Turkish International Service at Mehmetcik Abidesi
French Memorial Service at Morto Bay
Commonwealth Memorial Service at Cape Helles
Monday - 25th April 2012
Dawn Service, ANZAC Commemorative Site at North Beach
Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine
Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial Service at Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial
New Zealand Memorial Service at Chunuk Bair
The ANZAC Commemorative Site is expected to be closed to visitor entry from approximately mid morning to early-mid afternoon on 24th April. The road leading to the ANZAC Commemorative Site will be closed from 3:00 a.m. on 25th April until the start of the Dawn Service.
PREPARING TO ATTEND THE ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIONS:
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 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 where the New Zealand service is held is 3.2 kms up a steep bitumen surfaced road.
(The cars on this photo belong to the diplomatic corps and their escort)
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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
The weather during the day may be warm and windy
You can expect to be on site, exposed to the elements, for between 12 and 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
You will walk considerable distances from the time of your arrival to attend the services until your departure
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
Swimming in the waters off the ANZAC area is prohibited
PACKING:
PLEASE BRING:
Wet weather jacket and pants
Warm, thermal clothing, jacket, beanie, hat or cap, gloves, scarf
Warm blanket
Comfortable, sturdy walking shoes
Prescription medications (if necessary)
Food / snacks
Drinking water
Sunscreen
Torch
Camera
A small day pack may be useful to carry these items.
PLEASE DO NOT BRING:
(The following items are prohibited in the commemorative areas)
Large backpacks
Camping equipment
Alcohol
flammable liquids
Weapons or sharp objects
Intoxicated persons will be refused entry
These items MUST be left on our tour coach.
All visitors to the commemorative services are screened on entry to the sites, and all bags are searched.
GETTING THERE:
Several kilometres from the ANZAC Commemorative Site, our tour coaches and customers 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.
Our tour coaches set down our customers at Beach Cemetery, which is about one kilometre (15 minutes walk on a graded dirt road) 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 0.5 kilometre to the ceremonial area.
When you disembark from our TravelShop tour coach, please 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. Our coaches will depart the set down area after they have disembarked passengers and will not return to collect passengers until after all commemorative services are completed on the afternoon of 25th April.
Seating at the commemorative sites is available on grassed areas and in stands. Seating cannot be reserved. Once open on 24th 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 late may not be able to find room to be seated as a group and should be prepared to split up. Therefore we will try to be on the spot as early as possible.
WEATHER:
The weather in April can be warm during the day and extremely cold overnight, temperatures may be below 0 degrees celsius. Rain and very cold winds are possible. Our customers should ensure they are adequately equipped for these extremes by ensuring that they take appropriate warm and protective clothing. We offer sleeping bags for hire (pre-booking required).
There is no shelter at any of the commemorative sites and our customers will be exposed to the weather for the entire period they are on site, which can be up to 24 hours. Large crowds, limited public utilities, and traffic and security arrangements can result in long waiting periods.
GETTING ABOUT ON THE DAY:
Each of the commemorative services is 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, the Turkish 57th Regiment Service at the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial or the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair.
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.
DAWN SERVICE TO LONE PINE:
After completion of the Dawn Service visitors walk along the ANZAC Cove Road and up Artillery Road to Lone Pine Cemetery for the Australian Memorial Service. This 3.1 kms walk takes visitors past the 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.
LONE PINE TO 57th REGIMENT MEMORIAL:
After the conclusion of the service at Lone Pine, there is a short time to walk from Lone Pine to the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial service, a distance of 1.2 kms along an uphill bitumen road. The Turkish service starts thirty minutes after the conclusion of the Lone Pine service.
LONE PINE TO CUNUK BAIR:
The route slopes uphill past the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial and is approximately 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:
Seating: Temporary tiered seating is installed 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 our tour groups. There are no sheltered areas at any of the commemorative sites.
Visitors are not allowed to lean against or have items touching any headstones in the commemorative sites.
TOILETS:
Permanent toilets are only available at the Kabatepe Museum, which is some distance from the commemorative sites. Temporary chemical toilets and hand washing facilities are available on 24th and 25th April at the ANZAC Commemorative Site, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. The water at these locations is not potable and must not be used as drinking water.
WATER AND POWER:
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.
REFRESHMENTS:
Local Turkish food and drink vendors sell limited quantities of their products within the Gallipoli Park.
Consuming alcohol within the National Park is 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 and 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.
Webmaster's note: Most of the ANZAC Day tours you'll find on google or elsewhere are rubbish either. Book your tour with TravelShop Turkey, dude! I know what i am talking about.
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.
Security and crowd management measures include a ban on lighting fires, restrictions on entry points, individual searches and site security. Crowd control barriers are used as a means of directing public access and protecting the surrounding environment.
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.
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.
Security measures may be in place several days in advance of the services. Certain areas of the ANZAC Commemorative Site (including the beach and ceremonial area) will be inaccessible to members the public for extended periods on 24th April and 25th April.
See What NOT to bring for prohibited items
Intoxicated persons will be denied entry
Visitors are reminded of the very strict Turkish penalties for the possession of drugs
Swimming in the waters off the ANZAC area is prohibited
Lighting fires in the National Park is prohibited
Visitors are asked not to stand or sit on the road through the ANZAC Commemorative Site or other fenced movement corridors. These areas should be kept clear to provide a movement corridor through the site and for emergency access.
Public announcements, including messages on the large screens, will provide instructions in the event of an incident.
While safety lighting is installed at the ANZAC Commemorative Site for the evening of 24th April and for the Dawn Service, visitors may wish to bring torches.
FIRST AID:
Basic first aid facilities are available from 3:00 p.m. on 24th April and during the day on 25th April.
TRAFFIC AND CROWD MANAGEMENT:
Management of traffic on the Gallipoli Peninsula is the responsibility of the Turkish Jandarma. The number of large vehicles on the narrow roads of the Gallipoli Peninsula during 24th and 25th April means that traffic restrictions must be strictly enforced.
Our tour coaches will not be permitted to travel through the ANZAC Commemorative Site from the afternoon of 24th April. Our tour 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.
Our tour coaches will not commence the collection of passengers until after the conclusion of the Chunuk Bair service at approximately 1:15 p.m. on 25th April. Our tour coaches will collect passengers only from the commemorative sites. It takes until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. for all tour coaches to pick up their passengers.
BE PREPARED:
People 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. Furthermore, you can hire sleeping bags from us (pre-booking required). There is no access to our tour coaches after arrival, so everything you need during the evening and next day must be brought with you, including medications.
Please contact the TravelShop Turkey team well ahead
of the 97th Dawn Service Gallipoli.
