Anzac Day around the world
At dawn across Australia and around the world, Australians gather on 25 April to
honour the men and women who have served our nation in times of war and peace.
Attending a Dawn Service on Anzac Day is a very Australian tradition and no matter
where in the world you find yourself on this special day, there can often be a
gathering of Australians ready to commemorate our veterans.
Whether bracing against the cold winds at Gallipoli, crunching through the frost in
Northern France or retracing the route of the Burma-Thai railway, Australian
travellers will be gathering together on Anzac Day.
This year the Australian Government will be holding services at the sites of some of
Australia’s more-recognised battles and greatest losses around the world—at Hellfire
Pass in Thailand, Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, Sandakan in Malaysia,
Villers-Bretonneux in France, and of course Gallipoli in Turkey where the Anzac
legend was born.
Gallipoli remains a pilgrimage for many Australians. It is still an isolated peninsula
and all access to the commemorative site on Anzac Day is by coach through security
checkpoints. If you are thinking of spending Anzac Day at Gallipoli be prepared to be
outside in all weather conditions for up to 24 hours and able to walk up to eight
kilometres over rough terrain. Despite this, Gallipoli is a special place to visit, so
make some time to return the following day to tour the battlefields and cemeteries.
More than 46,000 Australians perished in the bloody battles along the Western Front
during the First World War. Now Australians can honour their sacrifice at an annual
Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. This service
is easily accessible for Australians travelling in Europe, being only two hours from
Paris and 20 minutes from Amiens.
Each year, the townsfolk of Villers-Bretonneux and nearby Bullecourt hold their
own commemorations and with Anzac Day falling on a Saturday this year, visitors
to the Somme can attend the Dawn Service and village services in a relaxed
day’s drive which offers a glimpse of village life in Northern France.
To understand the horrors of war, visit the two sites of great tragedy for Australian
prisoners of war during the Second World War— Hellfire Pass and Sandakan.
During the Second World War some 13,000 Australian prisoners of war were
transported to Burma and Thailand to work on the 420 kilometre long Burma-Thai
railway. Some 2800 Australians died there. The Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass
especially honours their sacrifice. Making your way to the Hellfire Pass memorial
where the service is held, you walk through an eerie darkness slightly lit by bamboo
candles, following the route of a section of the Burma-Thai railway.
In Malaysia’s Sandakan Memorial Park you can learn about the fate of more than
2400 Australian and British prisoners of war held there by the Japanese during the
Second World War. Audio guides, available at no charge, share the stories of those
who were held as prisoners and the few who survived the infamous death marches.
On Anzac Day, family members lay a special floral tribute during the Dawn Service in
honour of those who died at the camp and on the death marches.
Closer to home but much more challenging, the adventurous can retrace the steps of
the Australian soldiers and the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels along the Kokoda Track in
Papua New Guinea. Each Anzac Day a Dawn Service is held at the spectacular
Isurava memorial overlooking the Kokoda Valley. The less adventurous can pay
their respects at a service at Bomana War Cemetery, around 19 kilometres north of
Port Moresby.
Anzac Day marks the date of the Gallipoli landings in 1915. It is an important day for
us to honour the men and women who have served and defended our country.
For information on Anzac Day Dawn Services, overseas and in Australia, visit the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at
Before making travel plans, always check the latest travel advice at
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