Friday Five: Commemorating Anzac Day in Pōneke

1. Take part in the Anzac Day guided walk

Join the Friends of the Wellington Botanic Garden as they take a stroll through the gardens to see plants from some of the countries involved in the two World Wars, and plants associated with peace and remembrance.

Held at the Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā on Monday 24 April from 11am to 12.15pm, this tour starts at the Cable Car entrance lookout and heads downhill, with some steps. 

Get your ticket on EventFinda.

2. Attend a service

There are a range of services across the city, starting at the Pukeahu National War Memorial:

• 6am -  A Dawn Service will be held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial.
• 9am - You can head to the Wellington Citizens' Wreath Laying service at the Cenotaph Precinct (corner of Lambton Quay and Bowen Street).
• 11am - The Anzac Day National Commemoration Service will take place at Pukeahu National War Memorial.
• 2.30pm - The Ataturk Memorial Service will be held at Ataturk Memorial in Strathmore. 
• 5pm - Last post will be at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

3. Reflect after the dawn service at Te Papa

After the Anzac Day Dawn Service, Te Papa will be opening the Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition early, and for free. The experience will include a performance by the New Zealand String Quartet, playing classical pieces inspiring reflectiveness and solemnity.

Find out more on the Te Papa website.

4. Go to the Wrights Hill Fortress Anzac open day

Spend the day exploring the Wrights Hill Fortress in Karori with your whānau and friends. You can take a self-guided tour through the labyrinth of underground World War ll tunnels. 

Bring a torch, strong footwear and some snacks to stop and have a picnic. Entry costs $10 Adult, $5 Child, or $20 for the family. No booking required. 

5. Learn from the Friends of Karori Cemetery

Head along to a short talk in the oldest part of the services area at Karori Cemetery. There, you can hear about the history and development of the dedicated area, the role of the National Women's Reserve, the impact the 1918 influenza epidemic had on its expansion, and of course stories of some of the men buried who had served at Gallipoli. 

Start time is 1.30pm on Tuesday 25 April, and the event is free. Find out more on the Facebook event.

Take note of changes to services and facilities over Anzac Day

Our services and facilities change slightly on public holidays, so just a reminder to check our holiday hours for services and facilities. 

Collections will happen as per normal on Anzac Day (Tuesday 25 April). If your rubbish is collected by a private operator, contact them directly for information on public holiday collections.

Watch out each Friday for a fun list of five great activities to do, places to explore, or things to discover in our awesome city.