Gallipoli Ephesus Pamukkale from Istanbul

Day 1 – Istanbul to Gallipoli
In the early morning we will drive west, heading towards the Aegean Sea. We will visit Gallipoli on the way 
*Gallipoli and The Dardanelles — After our lunch we will stop to visit Gallipoli, a place of fierce World War 1 fighting between Allied forces and the Turks. At ANZAC Cove thousands lost their lives in one fateful dawn morning. We will also see other famous battle sites of World War 1 in this area, such as Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair. From here we go to a ferry and cross the Dardanelle. For World War 1 buffs, you will know the Dardanelle Straits were a strategic crossing point for the allied armies to cross from Europe to Asia Minor. 
*Canakkale will be our final destination for today and where we will spend the evening. After dinner, you might want to stroll the harbor walk and experience the local culture. Overnight in CANAKKALE

Day 2 – Gallipoli to Kusadasi
We continue our scenic drive along the Aegean, stopping for photo opportunities and perhaps to indulge the taste buds at one of the many farmer road side stands that sell olives, figs, seasonal fruit and pistachios. We then will head east towards our first site of the day. 
Sites you’ll see today 
*Troy –is the ancient site written about by Homer in the Iliad. It dates back as far as 3000 BC and has been the site of nine different cities through the thousands of years it has existed. As you enter the site a large wooden Trojan horse dominates your view. You will definitely want to climb up and get your picture taken! 
After lunch you will depart from Canakkale, driving along the Aegean Sea down to Kusadasi, evening arrival in Kusadasi, Check in the hotel, Overnight stay.

Tournament plans at Gallipoli 'inappropriate'

Plans to hold a kick-boxing tournament at Gallipoli on the eve of Anzac Day have been slammed as "totally inappropriate" by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association.

Turkish-Australian kickboxing promoter Tarik Solak plans to match fighters from New Zealand, Australia and Turkey against the "rest of the word" on April 24, an event which he believed could attract up to 20,000 fans, the Herald Sun reported.

He told the newspaper the event should not be seen as disrespectful to those who fought at Gallipoli.

Travel tips: a retreat in Turkey and farms in the spring

A stylish new hotel looks set to put the Turkish fishing village of Selimiye on the tourism map when it opens in May. Badem Tatil Evi is an intimate retreat on the Bozburun peninsula, with just 12 rooms, a restaurant serving up Turkish home cooking, an infinity pool and a beach club. It's a short walk from the harbour, which is being touted as 'the new Kalkan' thanks to its lovely horseshoe bay and smattering of family-run restaurants and boutiques. A week's B&B booked with Turkey specialist Exclusive Escapes (exclusiveescapes.co.uk) costs from £750pp including flights, transfers, a day's cruise on a traditional gulet and a trip to Knidos on the Datça peninsula.

Travel Eye: Turkish Delight By the Aegean Sea

The turquoise sea glistens under the afternoon sun as I stand knee-deep taking in my surroundings. A shoal of Blennioidei shoot past my feet, before a flash to my right indicates a lone flying member of the group has glided out of the water and is now diving back in. Behind me, my friend Jo is immersed in her novel, stretched out across the golden powdery sand. Its a sizzling 28 degrees here and she's swapped the shelter of a beach umbrella for the protection of impressive metre-long palm leaves. I'm lapping up every ray while I can.

Explore Turkey in all its glory, gore

Gallipoli, Turkey - During World War I many battles raged around Europe, particularly in France and Belgium, but by 1915 the Western Front was deadlocked.

In early 1915 the Russians found themselves threatened by the Turks in the Caucasus and appealed to the Allies for some relief.

The British then took the fight to Turkey and the Gallipoli Peninsula on the western shore of the Dardanelles, with Constantinople as their objective.

Gallipoli capacity a guess, says Warren Snowdon

THE government's plan to restrict attendance at the 100th Anzac Day dawn service at Gallipoli in 2015 has been undermined by official assessments that the site can hold almost 50 per cent more people than has been claimed.

A letter written to the Turkish government in 2004 by then veterans affairs minister Danna Vale, and obtained by The Australian, states that the "design limit" for the dawn service site at Gallipoli is 15,000 people, many more than the 10,500 maximum the government is trying to impose.

The higher figure is further supported by a detailed 1999 study by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which also stated that the dawn service site at North Beach "has a capacity of 15,000".

Turkey caps Gallipoli centenary audience

 New Zealand will be limited to just 2000 places compared with Australia's 8000 at the official Anzac Day ceremony at Gallipoli for its centenary.

Veterans Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse confirmed the Turkish government had reviewed numbers for the Anzac Commemorative site at the centenary in 2015 and set a limit of 10,500 people.

"Demand for places at the 2015 Gallipoli commemorations is expected to significantly exceed the site capacity. That is why both Australia and New Zealand has agreed to ballot attendance passes."

Of the 10,500 attendance passes, Australia will receive 8000, New Zealand 2000, with the remaining 500 reserved for those from Turkey and for VIPs representing New Zealand, Australia and other countries involved in the conflict.

"This allocation ratio is based on the relative number of casualties suffered by New Zealand and Australia during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915."

"We will soon be in a position to make final decisions regarding balloting arrangements, and expect to announce further details in the coming weeks.

Anzac Day Tours - Gallipoli Tours

Ditching the big brother thing

This weekend New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is hosting his Australian counterpart Julia Gillard in Queenstown for an annual leaders' meeting focusing on the future of the two countries' Closer Economic Relations. Bruce Munro examines the business, cultural and psychological ties that bind our two nations and discovers New Zealand's relationship with its ''big brother'' is less than healthy.

It was the ultimate, public Aussie put-down by none other than the New Zealand architect of transtasman Closer Economic Relations.

In 1980 New Zealand's short in stature but larger-than-life Prime Minister Robert Muldoon met his Australian counterpart, Malcolm Fraser, in Wellington. Neither liked the other. But both agreed their countries should ''co-operate more closely in their own trading relationship''.

Aussie PM charmed by Queenstown

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has labelled Queenstown a "happy town" on her inaugural visit to the resort this weekend as she and her New Zealand counterpart John Key have packed greeting hundreds of interested locals between meetings.

Ms Gillard arrived yesterday afternoon on an Australian Airforce plane and has since held the Cricket World Cup, placed a wreath at Queenstown's war memorial and fitted in a spot of shopping in Arrowtown.

Among discussions between the two prime ministers they were able to announce today that New Zealand will take 150 boat people a year who have been approved as refugees by Australian authorities in offshore processing.

The figure will be part of 750 refugees New Zealand takes a year as part of its commitment to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

Spend Anzac Day in Gallipoli

Get in quick to secure final places on Tempo Holidays’ range of 2013 Anzac Day tours in Gallipoli.

The 3-day Anzac Day with Troy package includes the Anzac Day Dawn Service and services at the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk-Bair New Zealand Memorial, as well as guided tours of the Gallipoli battlefields and Troy from NZ$616* per person twin share.

Departing Istanbul 23 April, the package features a guided tour of Anzac Cove, Kabatepe War Museum, the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Turkish and allied trenches as well as central accommodation in Cannakkale.

Tempo is also offering a 5-day Anzac Day with Troy option priced from NZ$1054* per person twin share departing Istanbul 21 April.

Anzac Day Tribute In Gallipoli With Student Flights

Student Flights has places available on a 13-day Turkey tour that includes a special commemorative visit to the famous peninsula for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service.

The round trip tour starts in Istanbul on April 20, 2013 and travels south along the Aegean coastline before heading inland to the magical region of Cappadocia.

While in Gallipoli, guests pay their respects to Australia’s fallen comrades during two memorable ANZAC Day services, one at ANZAC Cove for the Dawn Service and another at the Lone Pine Australian Memorial site.

Other tour highlights include testing out the curative properties of Pamukkale’s calcium pools, a guided tour of Troy, exploring the 2,000 year old Roman city of Ephesus and marvelling at Cappadocia’s unique landscape and extensive underground cities.

NZ gets 2000 passes for Anzac Day service

Veterans' Affairs Minister Michael Woodhouse says the Turkish government has recently reviewed the Anzac commemorative site and formally advised that the maximum capacity is 10,500 people.

"Demand for places at the 2015 Gallipoli commemorations is expected to significantly exceed the site capacity. That is why both Australia and New Zealand have agreed to ballot attendance passes," Mr Woodhouse said.

Of the 10,500 attendance passes, Australia will receive 8000, New Zealand 2000, with the remaining 500 reserved for those from Turkey and for VIPs representing New Zealand, Australia and other countries involved in the conflict.

"This allocation ratio is based on the relative number of casualties suffered by New Zealand and Australia during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915," Mr Woodhouse said.

Landing plan ANZAC Cove

The ANZAC landing area was a broad, four mile (6 km) stretch of beach from about a mile (1.6 km) north of Gaba Tepe to a point near Fisherman's Hut, north of Anzac Cove. It was officially designated "Z Beach". (The five landing beaches at Helles were designated "S", "V", "W", "X" and "Y Beach"). To attain surprise the landing would commence following moonset, about one hour before dawn.

The landing would begin with the arrival of a "covering" force to swiftly capture the area surrounding the landing zone and make it secure for the main force. The Australian 3rd Brigade was selected as the covering force. Three battalions were to seize the third ridge line as well as Gaba Tepe while the fourth battalion remained in reserve. Following the covering force, the Australian 2nd Brigade would land and move to the north, climbing to the summit of the main range at Hill 971 and protecting the left flank of the landing. The original plan called for the capture of Mal Tepe, halfway across the peninsula, on the first day but only if the landing was successful would this objective be pursued by the main force; the Australian 1st Brigade and the two brigades of the New Zealand and Australian Division.

Landing at Anzac Cove

The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force was formed under General Sir Ian Hamilton and a two-pronged landing on the peninsula was planned. The British 29th Division would carry out the main landing at Cape Helles on the tip of the peninsula and advance along its length towards the forts at Kilitbahir which controlled the passage of the Narrows of the Dardanelles. However, because it was not possible to land the entire force on the limited beaches at Helles, a secondary landing by the Australian (and) New Zealand Army Corps, north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast, was planned. If resistance was strong, this secondary landing would be treated as a feint to draw defenders from Helles and the attacking force would be withdrawn. If successful, the attacking force would be a mere five miles (8 km) from the Narrows and in command of the high ground thereby denying the passage of reinforcements to Helles.

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was formed in Egypt from the Australian and New Zealand infantry that had been in training prior to moving to the Western Front in France. When the need for infantry at Gallipoli arose, they were ideally placed to participate. Two divisions were formed; the Australian 1st Division containing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigades, and the New Zealand and Australian Division containing the Australian 4th Brigade and the New Zealand Infantry Brigade.

Landing at Anzac Cove

The landing at Anzac Cove was part of the amphibious invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula by Australian and New Zealand forces on 25 April 1915. The landing, north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast of the Peninsula, was made by soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and was the first major combat of the war for these two countries. Another landing was made several miles to the south west at Cape Helles by British and French troops.

The purpose of the invasion was to overtake the Ottoman forts that controlled the passage of the Dardanelles straits. The Anzac Cove landing went awry when those members of the leadership cadre with the knowledge of the operational plan were either killed or evacuated wounded leaving the organisation at the beachhead in chaos and so, what was planned as a swift operation became a protracted and bloody eight-month struggle. In that period the frontline of the Anzac battlefield remained little changed from the ground captured on the first day of the landing, a space less than three-quarters of a square mile (2 km²) in size—home to over 20,000 men. Winning control of the Dardanelles was originally intended to be a purely naval operation but after the loss of three battleships during the attack of 18 March it was decided that the aid of the army would be required to defeat the forts that guarded the straits. See Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign.

Gallipoli Campaign

The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli or the Battle of Çanakkale (Turkish: Çanakkale Savaşı), took place on the Gallipoli peninsula in the Ottoman Empire (now Gelibolu in modern day Turkey) between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War. A joint British and French operation was mounted to capture the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (Istanbul) and secure a sea route to Russia.[15] The attempt failed, with heavy casualties on both sides. The campaign was considered one of the greatest victories of the Turks and was reflected on as a major failure by the Allies.

The Gallipoli campaign resonated profoundly among all nations involved. In Turkey, the battle is perceived as a defining moment in the history of the Turkish people a final surge in the defence of the motherland as the aging Ottoman Empire was crumbling. The struggle laid the grounds for the Turkish War of Independence and the foundation of the Republic of Turkey eight years later under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, himself a commander at Gallipoli.

Anzac Cove About

On Anzac Day in 1985, the name "Anzac Cove" was officially recognised by the Turkish government. The Anzac Day dawn service was held at Ari Burnu Cemetery within the cove until 1999 when the number of people attending outgrew the site. A purpose built "Anzac Commemorative Site" was constructed nearby on North Beach in time for the 2000 service.

Over the years, Anzac Cove beach has been degraded by erosion, and the construction of the coast road from Gaba Tepe to Suvla, originally started by Australian engineers just prior to the evacuation of Anzac in December 1915, resulted in the beach being further reduced and bounded by a steep earth embankment. The only way onto the beach was via the CWGC cemeteries at each headland, Ari Burnu Cemetery, and Beach Cemetery.

Anzac Cove

The beach itself became an enormous supply dump and two field hospitals were established, one at either end. Four floating jetties were quickly constructed for the landing of stores, later replaced in July by a permanent structure known as "Watson's Pier". The volume of stores quickly overflowed onto the adjacent beaches; firstly onto "Brighton Beach" to the south of the cove and later onto North Beach beyond Ari Burnu. Three wireless radio stations were established on the beach to maintain contact with the fleet.

While the cove was relatively sheltered from shellfire from across the peninsula — the Chanak forts, as well as the Turkish battleships Turgut Reis and Barbaros Hayreddin[1] anchored in the Dardanelles, shelled the waters off the cove — it was partially exposed to view from Gaba Tepe to the south and completely open to view from Nibrunesi Point at the southern tip of Suvla Bay to the north. Nibrunesi Point was under the guns of the Royal Navy so was never used to fire on Anzac, however the well-concealed Turkish battery at Gaba Tepe, known as "Beachy Bill", was a constant menace.

ANZAC Cove

Anzac Cove (Turkish: Anzak Koyu) is a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. It became famous as the site of World War I landing of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) on 25 April 1915. The cove is a mere 600 metres (2,000 ft) long, bounded by the headlands of Ari Burnu to the north and Little Ari Burnu, known as Hell Spit, to the south. Following the landing at Anzac Cove, the beach became the main base for the Australian and New Zealand troops for the eight months of the Battle of Gallipoli.

The first objective for soldiers coming ashore in enemy-held territory was to establish a beachhead, that is, a safe section of beach protected from enemy attack where supplies and extra troops could be safely brought ashore.

Anzac Day About

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name. When war broke out in 1914, Australia and New Zealand had been dominions of the British Empire for thirteen and seven years respectively.

Gallipoli campaign

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula, according to a plan by Winston Churchill to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was an ally of Germany during the war. The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Army commanded by Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk). What had been planned as a bold strike to knock the Ottomans out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. The Allied casualties included 21,255 from the United Kingdom, an estimated 10,000 dead soldiers from France, 8,709 from Australia, 2,721 from New Zealand, and 1,358 from British India. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in war.

Though the Gallipoli campaign failed to achieve its military objectives of capturing Constantinople and knocking the Ottoman Empire out of the war, the actions of the Australian and New Zealand troops during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an "Anzac legend" became an important part of the national identity in both countries. This has shaped the way their citizens have viewed both their past and their understanding of the present.

Formation of ANZAC

Plans for the formation began in November 1914 while the first contingent of Australian and New Zealand troops were still in convoy bound for, as they thought, Europe. However, following the experiences of the Canadian Expeditionary Force encamped on Salisbury Plain, it was decided not to subject the Australians and New Zealanders to the English winter and so they were diverted to Egypt for training before moving on to the Western Front in France. The British Secretary of State for War, Horatio Kitchener, appointed General William Birdwood, an officer of the British Indian Army, to the command of the corps and he furnished most of the corps staff from the Indian Army as well. Birdwood arrived in Cairo on 21 December 1914 to assume command of the corps.

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was a First World War army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force that was formed in Egypt in 1915 and operated during the Battle of Gallipoli. General William Birdwood commanded the corps, which comprised troops from the First Australian Imperial Force and 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The corps was disbanded in 1916 following the Allied evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula and the formation of I Anzac Corps and II Anzac Corps.