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The top things to do this Anzac weekend!
Apr 22, 2022

Discover all the great things you can get up to this long weekend!

Another long weekend is upon us as we observe Anzac Day on the coming Monday. With the day marking the landing of New Zealand and Australian troops in Gallipoli in 1915, it’s a very important time for us to remember the sacrifices of all those who’ve served in the military, both past and present. 

There’s plenty of ways that you can commemorate Anzac Day this year and a few fun things you can do during your time off this long weekend!  

Dawn services

One of the best ways to honour those who’ve served Aotearoa is by heading along to your local dawn service. Wake up nice and early and get the whole family along to catch the 6am services where you’ll be able to pay your respects. There will be various services happening all across the country but there may be some changes or cancellations due to much of the planning happening during Red Light. Make sure to go online and check out what sort of service is happening in your area.

If you’d rather stay at home, you can tune into Stuff’s live dawn service broadcast. They’ll also be covering events that are happening all across the motu throughout the day!

Visit your local museum

Spend some time during the weekend down at your local museum and discover the history of Gallipoli and other conflicts where New Zealanders have served. 

If you’re in Wellington, this weekend will be a great chance to head to Te Papa and check out the incredible exhibition Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War. Using huge human sculptures intricately designed by Weta Workshop, it’s a breathtaking journey through the Gallipoli campaign!

If you’re in Auckland, then head along to the Auckland War Memorial Museum to check out the halls of memories and exhibitions like Pou Kanohi New Zealand at War, where you’ll learn about the history of war. On Anzac Day, the museum will be running special events all day long that are perfect for the whole family. So be sure to head along! As a bonus, the museum has just opened a new exhibition featuring an incredibly rare fossil of a Tyrannosaurus Rex that is definitely worth the trip! 

No matter where you’re living in Aotearoa, your local museum is a great place to be this weekend!

Head along to a cenotaph…locally or online! 

Head along to your local cenotaph and participate in a wreath laying service or simply set down a poppy in remembrance. There are plenty of cenotaphs throughout the country and there will be some services taking place at them which you can attend. Search online to find the closest cenotaph to you. If you’re in Auckland, you can also go to the Field of Remembrance in Auckland Domain where 170 crosses will be installed to remember the New Zealanders who have died serving our country.  

If you can’t make it to your local cenotaph, then go to the Online Cenotaph where you can search up those who have served, learn about different service personnel and lay a virtual poppy for them. 

See the lights!

Aucklanders are in luck as the city will light up in red over the Anzac long weekend. The Harbour Bridge, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Sky Tower, Eden Park and many more city locations will be lit up. Also, there will be a fantastic light show at the St David’s Church in Grafton from Anzac Day through till 1st May. Every night, the church will have projections, images and sounds in remembrance. Visitors are welcome to share images of family members who have served the country, with these photos projected onto the church walls. 

Stay active and explore your city or town! 

If the sun is shining this weekend, then it’s a great chance to get out for a walk or bike and explore your city or town! There are many different war memorials and historic military sites scattered across the country. Search up if there’s one near you and go discover a slice of history you may not be familiar with. It’s a perfect way to get active and learn some more about Aotearoa’s military history. 

While you’re exploring, don’t forget to pop into your local cafes, restaurants or shops. This weekend’s a great time to learn more about your city or town AND support local businesses! 

Spend time with loved ones

With some more time on your hands this weekend, why not spend some quality time with the whole family. Anzac Day is a time that reminds us of those we’ve lost and whose sacrifice has let us live peacefully. So call your family up and have lunch or dinner at your place! If you’re stuck for things to do, you can always print out some images of poppies and get the kids to colour them in. There’s heaps of resources online to do this fun little arts project. You’ll be able to decorate the whole house in no time! 

Or maybe just relax at home! 

Sometimes the best thing to do on a long weekend is simply to pause and recharge. Life gets so hectic sometimes that you just need to put on some comfy clothes and relax at home. You can always get involved in commemorating Anzac Day from the comfort of your home with so many resources online that’ll help you pay your respects. The rest of your weekend, make sure to catch up on some well-deserved sleep, eat yummy food and check out the shows you’ve been meaning to watch

If you’re looking to feel even better after the long weekend then make sure to compare your bills! Quickly jumping online to compare your broadband, power and financial plans could save you heaps of money! So jump onto NZ Compare to find a better plan for you! Walking out of the weekend with a great deal and saving hundreds of dollars sounds pretty epic right?!

COMPARE BROADBAND 

COMPARE POWER 

COMPARE MONEY

At the end of the day, this coming weekend is a chance for us all to remember and honour those who’ve served and sacrificed for this country. It’s also an opportunity for us to rest and take time off. There’s so much to see and do this weekend that it’s set to be an insightful and enjoyable one!

From the team at NZ Compare - Enjoy the break!