A commemoration of ANZAC in Gallipoli, Turkey
Reflecting on our journey – by Di Myers
Last year I met my daughter Laura and her partner Krishn in Turkey for a special adventure. The plan was to celebrate her 30th birthday with a week of hiking in the mountains - more on that later - but first we chose to commemorate ANZAC Day in what felt like the most meaningful way possible: an overnight trip to Gallipoli.
We first experienced the deep sense of Turkish national pride on 23 April in Istanbul. This is National Sovereignty and Children’s Day - a public holiday unique to Turkey, celebrating its future generations. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of the Turkish Republic (1923– 1938), is still revered today. His legacy is everywhere: flags draped across buildings, street parades, and celebrations throughout the city.
Atatürk was also a commanding officer during the Gallipoli campaign, and his words of reconciliation - “your sons are now lying in our bosom… ” - are engraved at Anzac Cove. They remain a powerful reminder of shared loss and respect between nations.
25 April 2025 marked the 110th anniversary of the ANZAC landings. Over time, this day of remembrance has grown in significance. We reflect on a campaign that cost around 36,000 Commonwealth lives, including approximately 2,700 New Zealanders. Today, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains 31 cemeteries across the peninsula - beautifully kept places of quiet reflection. Of the thousands who died, only around 6,000 were formally identified, and memorials to the missing are everywhere.
Our journey to Gallipoli was an overnight Intrepid bus trip from Istanbul. We stopped on both sides of the peninsula before joining a queue of buses for strict security checks entering Anzac Cove. Access closes at 3am - we arrived around 1am. It felt like airport-level security: X-rays, sniffer dogs, no liquids. Beyond the checkpoints, we found around 2,600 people already settled in sleeping bags across the hillside overlooking the cove - a surreal and moving sight.
Through the early hours, films played on large outdoor screens - including Gallipoli, narrated by Sam Neill, and documentaries highlighting the campaign and the role of the Greek island of Lemnos. As dawn approached, dignitaries arrived, including New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, HRH Princess Anne, and representatives from Australia and New Zealand armed forces.
The service itself was deeply moving. Speakers spoke of humility and remembrance. Yet, even in such a solemn setting, there were moments of quiet humour - including the discovery of an Italian tourist beside us who, cocooned in his sleeping bag, somehow managed to sleep through the entire ceremony.
After the dawn service, we joined the crowds walking the steep track from Anzac Cove up to Lone Pine (the Australian memorial) and on to Chunuk Bair (the New Zealand memorial). Along the way, the landscape told its own story - steep ridgelines, narrow gaps between opposing trenches, and cemetery after cemetery. ’
At the New Zealand memorial, the midday service was unforgettable. The combination of solo performances, national anthems, laments, and a powerful waiata and haka from the NZ Defence Force was spine-tingling.
Lest we forget.
Beyond this once-in-a-lifetime experience, Turkey itself was an incredible destination - welcoming people, delicious food, and extraordinary history.
Some of my personal highlights included:
A sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the UNESCO-listed fairy chimneys of Cappadocia
Horse trekking through the Rose and Red Valleys in Göreme National Park
A cooking class in Istanbul, including shopping in the Grand Bazaar
Discovering that the Blue Mosque is, in parts, more red than blue
A ferry trip to the Asian side of Istanbul - interrupted by a surprisingly strong earthquake
Exploring the ancient ruins of Ephesus Walking across the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis (dating back to 190 BC)
Paragliding over the blue lagoon at Fethiye
Our final week was spent hiking part of the Lycian Way - a 710km trail along Turkey’s southern coast. With limited time, we chose the more mountainous eastern section.
We booked a self-guided “Pirate Coast” trek through Middle Earth Travel, starting from Antalya. The route took us through rugged terrain behind Mount Olympos, down to the beach at Çıralı, through the ancient ruins of Olympos, and along the spectacular coastline to Cape Gelidonya.
Some of our stays were in village homes where our hosts spoke no English, yet welcomed us warmly. Over five days we covered around 95km, climbing and descending challenging terrain. The trail was remote and peaceful - many fellow hikers we met were young Russian travellers choosing to camp.
For anyone seeking an adventurous and meaningful travel experience, Turkey offers an incredible mix of history, culture, and natural beauty. And sharing that journey with your adult children is, without doubt, one of life’s great joys.
