Gallipoli ANZAC Battlefield Guided Walking Tour
ANZAC Walk – A Self-Guided Journey Along Gallipoli’s Second Ridge
Walk in the footsteps of the ANZAC soldiers and experience their journey along the frontline of Gallipoli.
The ANZAC Walk commemorates the sites where Australian soldiers fought and died on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915. This self-guided tour follows the second ridge—the actual firing line—where the most intense battles took place.
Through historical insights, personal stories, and battlefield landmarks, this journey takes you back in time, helping you understand the challenges, sacrifices, and legacy of the ANZAC troops.
🚶 Route Overview:
1️⃣ ANZAC Landing Beach (Ariburnu, North Beach & Williams’ Pier)
📍 The beginning of the Gallipoli campaign
25 April 1915 – The ANZAC troops landed at dawn, expecting a flat beach, but instead faced steep cliffs and fierce Turkish fire.
Williams’ Pier – The site of the final ANZAC evacuation on 20 December 1915.
Did You Know?
Due to navigational errors in the dark, the landing force missed their intended beach, leading to unexpected heavy resistance from Turkish defenders.
2️⃣ Second Ridge – The Firing Line
📍 The heart of the battle
Hundreds of soldiers rushed up the steep slopes under machine-gun fire and exploding shells.
The Battle of the Landing lasted until 3 May 1915, as the ANZACs struggled to hold their positions against fierce Turkish counterattacks.
Reflection Point:
Imagine being a young soldier, fresh from Australia or New Zealand, suddenly thrown into a desperate fight for survival on foreign soil.
3️⃣ Lone Pine & Johnston’s Jolly
📍 Sites of some of the bloodiest battles
Lone Pine Cemetery & Memorial – The site of the famous Battle of Lone Pine (6-9 August 1915), where seven Victoria Crosses were awarded.
Johnston’s Jolly – Explore preserved Turkish & Allied trenches, where hand-to-hand combat took place.
Pause and Reflect:
The trenches here were often just meters apart, and the battle was so fierce that some soldiers could hear their enemies breathing.
4️⃣ The Nek
📍 The site of the tragic Australian Light Horse charge
On 7 August 1915, hundreds of Australian Light Horsemen launched a frontal assault against well-defended Turkish trenches.
Due to a miscalculated timing of artillery support, the charge failed catastrophically, with 234 soldiers killed within minutes.
This battle was immortalized in Peter Weir’s film Gallipoli.
What If?
Had the artillery timing been correct, would the outcome at The Nek have been different?
5️⃣ Chunuk Bair – New Zealand’s Triumph & Tragedy
📍 The highest point ANZACs captured
On 8 August 1915, New Zealand forces briefly took Chunuk Bair, but were later driven back by a counterattack led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
The Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial stands as a tribute to the 852 New Zealand soldiers who died here.
Words to Remember:
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s famous speech:
“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.”
🎖 Why Take This Walk?
✅ Experience history firsthand – Walk the same paths as the ANZAC soldiers.
✅ Learn about the real battle strategies & challenges – Study the tactical decisions that shaped the campaign.
✅ Pause and reflect – This tour is not just about history, but also about remembrance and legacy.
🕊 Take a moment at each site to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who fought here.
