ANZAC Day sites to visit around Australia

ANZAC Day is a time to pause, reflect, and remember—but with 2025 giving us a rare extra-long weekend, it’s also a chance to connect more deeply with the stories behind the day.

Instead of staying local, why not take the opportunity to visit the places where our history is remembered in stone, soil, and spirit? Across the country, there are powerful sites that honour the ANZAC legacy—each with its own story to tell. Whether you’re after a quiet moment of reflection or a meaningful way to spend time with family, these destinations offer a moving way to mark the occasion.

 

North Bondi War Memorial (Sydney, NSW)

North Bondi’s War Memorial is one of the relatively few around the country to celebrate the efforts of First Nation’s ANZAC heroes. 

Unveiled in 2011, the memorial itself has plaques with descriptions of every war or battle Australia has been involved in and consists of “walls” including one dedicated to  'Capt. Reginald Walter Saunders MBE – the first Aboriginal commissioned officer.   

The inscription reads “On Anzac eve we dug in among friends. At last I felt like an Anzac, and imagine there were 600 others like me'”
 

Darwin's ANZAC Cenotaph (Darwin, NT)

Darwin played a significant role during World War II and you can visit the Cenotaph in Bicentennial Park – it's now home after being moved all over the city. 

The Cenotaph was first erected outside Government House in 1921, relocated to the Civic Centre in 1970, and moved again to Bicentennial  Park in 1990. 

The Cenotaph bears the names of all Territorians who have sacrificed their lives in defence of our country. 

A  ‘Bombing of Darwin’ memorial garden has been established behind the Cenotaph.  
 

The National ANZAC Centre (Albany, WA)

Albany, in Western Australia, is where the first Australian and New Zealand convoy set sail for Gallipoli in 1914.  

The National ANZAC Centre tells the story of this critical moment in Australian and New Zealand history. 

The centre provides a panoramic view of the coastline where the ships set sail, and you can visit the reflection pool where the names of the 41,265 Australians and New Zealanders who left on the First and Second convoys are recorded. 

 

Kokoda Track Memorial Walk (Melbourne, VIC)

Many dream to walk the The Kokoda Track - a 96-kilometer foot thoroughfare through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. 

The Kokoda Memorial Walk in the Dandenong Ranges outside Melbourne, pays tribute to the soldiers who fought in the Kokoda Campaign in Papua New Guinea during World War II.  

Experience a sliver of exhaustion felt be Australian soldiers while you reflect on the courage, endurance, mateship, and sacrifice on display from ANZAC soldiers throughout history. 

For an easier trail that doesn't require military fitness levels, visit the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Sydney.
 

Australian War Memorial (Canberra, ACT)

The Australian War Memorial in Canberra is the most significant site in Australia commemorating all Australians who have died in war.  

It houses extensive collections, including the Hall of Memory, which contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

The ANZAC Day service held annually at the War Memorial is one of the most revered in the country. 

Read more: How ANZAC heroes helped build the NRMA | Centenary | Then and now