ANZAC DAY 2003

The Gallipoli Peninsula Peace Park covers almost the entire Peninsula and is protected in order to preserve the archaeological, cultural and military heritage of the area. The Anzac Commemorative Site is the site of the Anzac Day Service. It has been constructed with the approval of the Turkish Government because of the damage that was done anually to the Ari Burnu war Cemetery when the Anzac Day Services were held there.

Order of Services
Anzac Day services on the Gallipoli Peninsula are conducted not only by Australia and New Zealand, but by Turkey, Britain and France as well. The schedule of services on 25 April 2003 is as follows:

Program will be distributed on arrival at the Anzac Day service as well as souvenir brochures prepared by the Office of Australian and New Zealand Governments. The service Program covers all three Australian and New Zealand services and is being prepared as a souvenir brochure.

The Turkish International Service involves representetives of all five nations, while the Turkish 57th Infantry Regiment Service commemorates those Turkish soldiers who first resisted the Anzac soldiers following the landings at Anzac Cove and North Beach. This Regiment was part of the 19th Division commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Kemal who became Kemal Ataturk, the first President of the Republic of Turkey.

The Anzac Day service is similar to an Australian dawn service, except that its content involves both Australian and New Zealand participants, including the involvement of both senior Government Minister and selected youths of each nation. There is also increasing recognition of the large number of British forces that served and died in the Anzac Area . Wreath laying is usually limited to official wreaths because of the large number of national representatives .Private wreaths can be laid after the service. The Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair services are Australian and New Zealand national services respectively.

All visitors are most welcome to attend all services , but distance as well as traffic and parking conditions generally make attendace at the service in the south of the Peninsula very difficult . Many choose to walk from the Anzac Day service to the Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair service .A reasonably fit individual can easily traverse the route by walking south past Ari Burnu and Beach Cemeteries via Shell green cmetery to Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Cemeteries. The path is well marked.

Australian National Service - Lone Pine War Cemetery

The cope with the expected attendances and to relieve the pressures on the war cemetery, additional seating platforms are being considered for visitors either side of the cemetery. Commonwealth War Graves Commission will greatly appreciate the cooperation of visitors in minimising the impact of visitors in the cemetery . Areas roped off should not be entered, in order to protect the plants growing in fragile and arid conditions .Seating will be provided for the official party in order to improve viewing for those standing behind.

New Zealand National Service - Chunuk Bair Memorial

Those wishing to attend the New Zealand Service after Lone Pine will have to walk uphill 3.3 km (about a one hour walk) past the 57th Regiment Service to reach Chunuk Bair.

(*) All visitors are most welcome to attend all services, but distance as well as traffic and parking conditions generally make attendance at the services in the south of Peninsula very difficult. Thus we will skip these services. 1200 - 1240 Australian Memorial Service, Lone Pine. The coaches will meet us at Lone Pine.

If you do not want to walk to Chunuk Bair - it is about 3 miles far away from Lone Pine - you can proceed by bus.

What is the Advantage of this programme?

1. Not wonder about the transfer to your accommodation when you arrive Istanbul.
2. Do not have to pay additional money to the hotel in Canakkale wh,ch you'll stay a little while and have to leave at midnight to join Day Service .Thus , We directly travel you to Gallipoli by coach from Istanbul 24 April and return late the next day , thereby avoiding the accommodation problem.
3.You will not think about your luggages while you join to the Day Service , we keep them in the bus.
4.You'll not try to find your bus after Day Service because we are going to walk to the Lone Pine and meet our coach there to have a breakfast.
5.Not try to find bus to Selcuk or Istanbul because we transfer you there with the same coaches and guides.
6.You have enoughtime to visit all important points in Peninsula before Day Service.

The Tour Includes:
Transfer from Airport to your hotel.
Transfer from Istanbul to Gallipoli by non-smoking bus.
Lunch on the way to Canakkale.
24 April fully guided tour of Gallipoli.
Entrance fee of Kabatepe museum.
Day service with breakfast.
Transfer to Selcuk (Ephesus) or bus back to Istanbul by non-smoking bus.

Tour price: £69