Anzac Day at Gallipoli is an amazing experience for all involved and the feeling of being part of it is something you will remember forever.  It is a busy time though and can be quite tiring but it is a small sacrifice to make for being there and paying your respects to the brave soldiers who fought there 95 years ago.

The number of people who visit each year varies and they never really provide any detailed numbers of who went but there is normally between 5,000 and 10,000 people each year. Many tour groups run tours to the Gallipoli peninsula for Anzac Day and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of buses that descend on the area over this time.

At Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials there is temporary grandstand seating put in place as there is not enough room for everyone to sit on the grass areas that are there.

Once you arrive in Anzac Cove on the 24th April you will take your place either on the grass areas or in the seated areas.  The advantage you have with the ANZAC BUS is that you get to Anzac Cove early so have a chance to get a decent spot.  What are we there for?  Well essentially you will wait through the afternoon and night for the Dawn Service that starts at first light.  There is plenty to keep you occupied during this time with readings from speakers and large screen televisions that will show documentaries and speeches from dignitaries from New Zealand, Australia and Turkey.  There are also plenty of places to get something to eat, drink and use the toilet facilities at Anzac Cove and throughout the area and at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials.

Weather in Gallipoli
The weather in the Gallipoli Region at this time of year is typically warm during the day but cold in the evenings.  Anzac Cove is very exposed to the wind and we strongly suggest you bring anything with you that will make your stay more comfortable but please remember anything you bring with you will have to be carried during the day as you will not be able to access the bus or your luggage from when you get off the bus on the afternoon of the 24th April.  In addition to this the security at the entrance to Anzac Cove will search all bags and will not allow large backpacks or suitcases into the area.

You may like to bring:
• Sleeping bag or Blanket
• Roll-Up ground mat to sit on or lie on if you are wanting to take the grass area rather than the seats at Anzac Cove.
• Jacket and Warm Clothing
• Warm Gloves, Hat and Scarf

We suggest everyone brings a day backpack with them to carry their things around during the day on Anzac Day and on the bus as once you board the bus in Istanbul you will have no access to your main luggage which is stowed beneath the bus until you reach Eceabat (for those departing there) and Istanbul (for those carrying on there).

You may also like to bring the following:
• Cameras
• Flags and your countries sports or national coloured clothing
• Sunscreen (Yes it is possible to get burnt there during the day)

Once the Dawn Service is finished everyone makes there way along the main road and then through a track inland which will take you to the Lone Pine Memorial.  The organisers do put on shuttle services for elderly, disabled or people who have trouble walking so look out for stewards in brightly coloured vests who can direct you to these.  Australians should go into the memorial and get a seat ready for the Australian Service to start.  New Zealanders should bypass this and carry on up the road to the Chunuk Bair Memorial and get a place for the New Zealand Service.  Chunuk Bair is considerably smaller than Lone Pine and once full they do close it off and you will not be able to enter.  For this reason and the fact that there is not enough time to walk from the end of one service before the start of the next service, we suggest New Zealanders do not wait around for the Australian Service.

In past years (and it is likely to continue in 2010) the Australian Service was shown on big screens at Chunuk Bair and the New Zealand Service was shown on Big Screens at Lone Pine so there is a chance to at least watch both of them.

After the services all the buses (hundreds of them) are allowed to progress from Anzac Cove along the main road past Lone Pine and then onwards to Chunuk Bair.  As each bus passes everyone gets on them and to say this time is 'bedlam' would be an understatement as everyone tries to get on the right bus with the limited time that each one is allowed to stop.  You will need to look out for our ANZAC BUS staff who will be wearing ANZAC BUS T-Shirts and holding ANZAC BUS signs.  They will be co-ordinating the buses and letting you know when your bus is coming.  This will be done at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair and then we will head off away from the battlefields area.

First your bus will head to Eceabat which is a small town on the peninsula and where a regular ferry runs to Canakale on the mainland.  Those who wish to leave the ANZAC BUS here can do so (note: There is no reduction in price for doing so) and the remainder of the bus will head back to Istanbul where you will be dropped off at the same place in Sultanahmet that you met the bus the morning of the day before.  You can then make your way to your hostel, hotel, Bus Station, Airport or anywhere else you wish to go.

And that's all there is to it!