Boronia Travel Centre

As the ANZAC Day centenary approaches, many Australians are turning their thoughts to whether they will secure a place in the ballot to attend the centennial commemorations at Gallipoli on ANZAC Day in 2015.

Despite the ballot process, many Australian’s are booking travel for the centenary regardless of whether they will actually be able to attend the dawn service at the Anzac Commemorative Site.

John Waller, Director of Australia’s specialist tour operator Boronia Battlefield Tours, offers some helpful advice to those considering travel to Gallipoli for the 2015 commemorations.

“It’s really important for anyone wanting to travel to Gallipoli in 2015, regardless of who they’re booking with, to register for accommodation and travel as soon as possible as accommodation is limited on the Gallipoli Peninsula and spaces are filling fast. We could face a situation where someone waits until they confirm a space in the ballot but then finds there is no accommodation left for the Anzac Day dates,” said John.

The details of the Gallipoli 2015 ballot arrangements have already been announced by the Government, and the ballot is expected to open for registrations on 1 November 2013.

John gives the following tips for people researching travel options to Gallipoli in any year but especially for 2015.

John says people should ask their travel agent the following questions;

• Where is the hotel located in relation to the Gallipoli dawn service site?
• What are the travel arrangements to get to the site for the dawn service? How long will the journey take and what happens if the weather is bad?
• What will happen if I book with you but miss out on a place in the ballot?

On a final note, John Waller explained, “It’s important that people travel with a specialty operator to these locations.  We have a long history in leading tours to this area and have exclusive accommodation only 10 - 20 minutes from Gallipoli versus other operators whose accommodation is on the other side of the peninsula requiring a two-hour bus and ferry journey to get across to the site.”

"The Gallipoli 2015 commemoration will be momentous however those people who miss out on a ballot should ensure their tour operator offers a suitable alternative arrangement to take part in the commemorations at an alternative site at the same time.”

People who would like to seek more information about the ballot process should visit www.gallipoli2015.dva.gov.au

Further information about John Waller’s specialty Battlefield tours and Gallipoli 2015 options can be found at www.battlefieldtourspecialists.com.au

Editors notes

John Waller is the director of Battlefield Tours, a specialist operator with over 20 years’ experience personally leading tour groups to Gallipoli and the Western Front. Boronia Battlefield Tours is the official travel agent of The Australian War Memorial. All their tours are accompanied by leading Australian War Memorial historians.