The Dawn Service at the ANZAC Commemorative Site is the emotional heart of ANZAC Day at Gallipoli. Held in the dark before sunrise on 25 April, it marks the hour the troops first came ashore in 1915.
This guide explains what the service is like, from the overnight vigil to the moment first light breaks over ANZAC Cove.
The overnight vigil
Most visitors arrive the evening before and settle in for a long, cold night at the commemorative site. Readings, music and quiet reflection fill the hours before dawn.
Warm layers, a blanket or sleeping bag and patience are essential; there is little shelter and the night air off the Aegean is sharp.
The service itself
The formal Dawn Service begins in darkness and builds towards first light, with addresses, the Last Post, a period of silence and the laying of wreaths.
As the sky lightens over the cove, the setting itself becomes part of the ceremony.
After the Dawn Service
Following the dawn ceremony, separate Australian and New Zealand services are held later in the morning at Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair respectively.
Visitors usually move between sites through the day, so comfortable footwear and pacing matter.
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