These are some of the most popular Anzac Day Dawn Services for 2025

ANZAC Day takes place on April 25 each year, and is a Friday this year.
The national day of remembrance is observed in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga.
Commemorations begin early with Anzac Day dawn services across Sydney.
READ MORE: Here is what’s open in Sydney on Anzac Day.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance that is observed in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga, commemorating the soldiers in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (hence, ANZAC) who set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915. More than 8,000 Australian soldiers were killed in the military operations, which lasted eight months, and it’s these losses who are remembered each year, as well as all Australian soldiers who have served.

Nowadays, many associate Anzac Day with 2 Up, the game of chance, but for those who want to pay their respects to the soldiers, the Dawn Services are the perfect place to start.

1. Cenotaph in Martin Place

Thousands travel to The Cenotaph in Martin Place for Sydney’s dawn service. It starts at 4:20am, so set those alarms.

During the service, there will be a catafalque contingent, an Ode of Remembrance—taken from a 1914 poem by the English poet, Laurence Binyon—Last Post bugle call, a minute’s silence, a Reveille played on a bugle and the laying of the wreaths. Gathering in the pre-dawn darkness, the service lasts around 45 minutes to an hour, until the sky starts to lighten. As the name suggests…

The Ode of Remembrance goes like this:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

The audience then responds: “We will remember them.”

2. North Sydney War Memorial

If you find yourself north of the bridge next weekend, head to St Leonard Park where the North Sydney War Memorial stands on Ridge St behind North Sydney Oval. This is the location of the North Sydney ANZAC Dawn Memorial Service, which starts at 5:45am. So not quite as early as the city’s main dawn service. Breakfast and drinks will be available at The Greens North Sydney after the service.

northsydney.nsw.gov.au

3. North Bondi

The North Bondi service is a popular alternative to the Martin Place event and is one of the latest too, starting just 25 minutes before sunrise, at 6am. Head to North Bondi RSL, just a stone’s throw from the famous beach. Around 10,000 people are anticipated to attend, so full closure of a section of Campbell Parade and Ramsgate Avenue will apply until the service ends at around 7am.

waverley.nsw.gov.au

4. Mosman

Georges Heights Parade Ground on Best Avenue will host the Mosman RSL Sub-Branch’s Dawn Service, starting at 5:30am until 6:30am. It will include a Catafalque party, wreath-laying and the Act of Remembrance. The ANZAC Commemorative Address will be given by local Vietnam Veteran and RSL member Getty McCormack.

Following the service, Frenchy’s Café will be serving breakfast from 6:30am, and you could then try Sydney’s new $9.5 million coastal path which extends from Georges Head to Middle Head–Gubbuh Gubbuh.

mosman.nsw.gov.au

5. Goldstein Reserve, Coogee

Starting at 5:30am, the Dawn Service in Coogee will include a Welcome to Country, prayer, wreath-laying, Last Post bugle call, a minutes’ silence, the New Zealand and Australian Anthem – sung in Gadigal Language and English – and other special musical performances. The service is produced in collaboration with the Coogee Randwick Clovelly RSL sub-branch.

randwick.nsw.gov.au

6. Parramatta

In Western Sydney, the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing will be honoured at the City of Parramatta RSL sub-branch. The service will begin at 4:15am with a march from Parramatta Town Hall to Prince Alfred Square, passing along Marsden Street. Dawn Service will then commence at War Memorial and Cenotaph at 4:30am.

cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

7. Cronulla

South of Sydney, Cronulla Dawn Service will begin at 5:30am at Cronulla Park. Afterwards, head to Cronulla RSL Sub-Branch, which is celebrating its 100th year. There will be a historic address by Jenny Weir, the first female Sub-Branch member to speak at the service. There will also be a HARS Warbird FLypast and Two-Up. Don’t miss live music by Mark Travis in the Sunroom (midday to 3pm).

cronullascommunity.com.au