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New Zealanders travelling to Turkey for the ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli are advised to monitor the Ministry’s travel advisory for Turkey, and that of Australia, in the lead up to 25 April.
The Turkish authorities will provide extensive security for the ANZAC Day services at the Gallipoli Peace Park. Visitors to the Gallipoli area will need to comply with any directives issued by Turkish authorities and the event organisers.
Security measures will include restrictions on entry points, and searches of persons and bags. Prohibited items will be confiscated on entry. Any items confiscated at the site will not be returned at the conclusion of the commemorations. No alcohol is permitted. A security wristband will be provided at screening points and must be worn on your wrist until you leave the Gallipoli Peace Park at the conclusion of the commemorations.
Due to security requirements, certain areas at the commemorative sites may not be accessible to the public during the services.
Visitors should allow additional time to travel to the commemorative sites and to pass through the various security checkpoints.
ANZAC Day is a national day of commemoration in New Zealand and Australia when we remember those who died in war. The 2011 ANZAC Day commemorations will mark the 96th anniversary of the landings at Gallipoli.
The Gallipoli Peninsula is equally revered by the Turkish people who also suffered great losses defending their homeland against invasion. It is also a place of remembrance for other countries that participated in the 1915 campaign, including Britain, France, India, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Germany.
The commemorative services will be held over two days, Sunday 24 April and Monday 25 April. On 24 April there will be Turkish, French and Commonwealth services. The Dawn Service (ANZAC Commemorative Site), the Australian Memorial Service (Lone Pine), the Turkish 57th Regiment Memorial Service (57th Regiment Memorial) and the New Zealand Memorial Service (Chunuk Bair) will be held on Monday 25 April. More detailed information on the commemorative events is available from the website of Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz and the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs www.dva.gov.au.
The following will not be permitted into the commemorative sites:
Limited basic facilities and refreshment stands will be available on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 24 and 25 April. Large crowds, traffic and security arrangements are likely to result in long waiting periods.
New Zealanders are advised to dress and to behave conservatively and generally to maintain a suitably dignified manner that respects local customs and sensitivities, and the solemnity of the commemorative events.
Visitors are requested not to stand or sit on the road through the ANZAC commemorative site or any other fenced movement corridors. This ensures that the road is kept clear to allow a clear movement corridor for emergency access and so that people have ready access to the (limited) toilet facilities and food vendors.
Certain areas of the ANZAC commemorative site, including the beach and VIP area, will not be accessible to the public.
Ferries normally cross the Dardanelles between Canakkale and Eceabat on the hour. In between these times, smaller ferries operate on a “when full” basis between Canakkale and Kilitbahir.
As the ferries and roads are likely to be very congested, visitors should ensure they allow sufficient time to travel to the peninsula.
Tour buses that take visitors into the Peace Park will be parked some considerable distance from the commemorative sites and therefore will not be readily accessible during the ceremonies. The buses will return to collect passengers after all the commemorative services are completed on the afternoon of 25 April. Visitors can expect to wait several hours for their bus to pick them up at the conclusion of the services.
The weather at Gallipoli in April can be variable, ranging from very cold and windy, through cool and wet to brilliant sunshine, often on the same day (visitors to the dawn services in past years have experienced driving rain and snow with temperatures below zero degrees Celsius). Visitors who remain overnight or arrive in the early hours of the morning need to dress very warmly. By midday it can be very hot, so layers of clothes are recommended.
Visitors are also advised to wear strong footwear and to be prepared for the need to walk considerable distances, in some cases uphill on rough gravel walking tracks. The walk from the ANZAC commemorative site to Chunuk Bair via Lone Pine is approximately 6.4 kms. Visitors need to have a moderate level of fitness.
Basic essentials should be carried in a small day pack and include such items as a torch, sunscreen, insect repellent, bottled water, food, protective clothing, a hat and wet weather gear. Plastic sheeting is useful in case of rain. There is no shelter at the ANZAC commemorative site, Lone Pine or Chunuk Bair.
Remember, all bags and packs will be searched, along with physical checks on people, at various points throughout the day.
There are limited toilet facilities in the Gallipoli Peace Park. Toilet facilities are available at the Kabatepe Museum, and portable toilets will be installed and operating from 24‑25 April inclusive at the ANZAC commemorative site, Lone Pine and at Chunuk Bair.
There is no running water except at these toilets and nor is there any power or lighting except that provided by generators for the Dawn Service.
Seating is extremely limited at all services and there is no allocated seating. Visitors, therefore, should not expect to have seating at the Dawn Service or at the Chunuk Bair service.
Visitors are requested not to smoke in or around the stands.
As there are only limited refreshment stands on site, with limited choice, visitors should plan accordingly and bring food snacks and bottled water.
Biodegradable plastic bags will be provided for rubbish and visitors are asked to take the bag with them as they leave the sites and to place the bag in the designated rubbish bins, and to respect the Peace Park as a memorial site. Please remember that you are on hallowed ground - thousands of the soldiers who died on the Peninsula have no known grave.
There are very strict penalties for the possession of drugs in Turkey.
An alcohol ban will be strictly enforced while visitors are at the commemorative sites and all bags will be searched. Intoxicated persons will be denied entry.
The local Canakkale hospital provides limited first aid facilities on site on 24‑25 April for visitors. Visitors should consider taking a small personal first aid kit.
If you lose or find property during the commemorations, please take it to the nearest information tent and notify event staff.
In Turkey special facilities are not generally available for people with disabilities or restricted mobility. Before organising your trip it is advisable to contact a travel agent, tour operator and the local tourist authority to find out whether local transport, accommodation and attractions will cater for your disability.
For those New Zealanders with special needs who are planning to attend the services, you need to be aware that the sites do not lend themselves to comfortable conditions for people with a disability. Special needs seating is not on flat ground and there are approximately 25 steps to climb. We expect that people with a disability will have to walk 400 metres only but it is possible that you may need to walk 4 kilometres. People who are confined to a wheelchair will need to have a carer accompany them at all times. Limited transport assistance may be available for people who are unable to walk between the commemorative sites.
You need to register in advance for special needs assistance and you can do this by contacting Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand on free phone 0800 483 3872.
Swimming is prohibited at ANZAC Cove. Poisonous sea urchins are present in the water.
New Zealanders travelling to or resident in Turkey should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies that include provision for medical evacuation by air.
Consular officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be positioned in Istanbul, Canakkale, and on the Gallipoli Peninsula to provide urgent on-the-ground consular assistance required by New Zealanders attending the Gallipoli commemorations.
Contact details for Consular officers for the period 20 to 26 April will be kept updated on this website. In the meantime, any New Zealanders who require consular assistance should contact the New Zealand Embassy in Ankara. (Tel: +90 312 446 3333)
In Turkey, the nationwide 24-hour Police emergency number is 155. Foreigners may also contact the Tourist Police in Istanbul on 0212 527 4503 during office hours.
New Zealanders who plan on attending the Gallipoli commemorations are encouraged to subscribe to the online travel advisory service for Turkey so they receive free instant email notification each time the travel advice is updated.
New Zealanders travelling to the Gallipoli commemorations are encouraged to register their details.
Page last updated: Thursday, 14-Apr-2011 11:46:17 NZST
