I note that Anzac Day is Friday April 25. As I will be on tour at that time, I was wondering what impact, if any, it is likely to have on me as a tourist (I will be starting the day at Ayers Rock and ending the day in Cairns). Will most stores and businesses be closed or will most tourist operations function as normal? Is it a one day holiday or do most people make it a long week end? Is it a time of increased travel and congestion at the airports?

Joe, most retail shops should be open. However there will be a surcharge of approximately 15% on your food bill (if you eat out) in cafes and restaurants to cover the higher wages. If shops close, it is more than likely for only half a day. However, in "tourist" areas, most operate as normal.

As this year Anzac Day is a long weekend, you may experience a little more traffic than normal... However Easter is traditionally our busiest public holiday. I am guessing you won't be too inconvenienced by it all. Many people will go camping seeing as it is a long weekend.

I think you will find that Cairns is busier than Uluru. I am guessing that you will fly from Alice Springs, not Uluru???? Both airports are quite small, but speedy.


Have a terrific time.

PS The "law" in Queensland (Cairns) is that shops are required to close 2 days a year: Good Friday and Christmas Day. All other days are business as usual for tourist areas.

quote:

Originally posted by joe d:
I note that Anzac Day is Friday April 25. As I will be on tour at that time, I was wondering what impact, if any, it is likely to have on me as a tourist (I will be starting the day at Ayers Rock and ending the day in Cairns). Will most stores and businesses be closed or will most tourist operations function as normal? Is it a one day holiday or do most people make it a long week end? Is it a time of increased travel and congestion at the airports?

joe ~ You should not be subjected to any interruptions on the day as you will be in transit for most of the day, there may be a "Dawn Service" held at Uluru, there will definitely be an Anzac Day march in Alice Springs in the morning but that should not interfere with your travel plans, most retail shops are closed till midday but I seriously doubt this would apply to Alice Springs.

You may very well see a little more activity in the airport than usual as it is also the end of the school holidays in some states of Australia, although this does not apply to Queensland or the Northern Territory as their school holidays finish on 13th April.

In a way I hope you get to experience a Dawn Service or Anzac Day March, it is a very moving experience, you may very well see lots of people wearing medals and ribbons in Alice Springs and Cairns.

Nothing like a good march ...

quote:

Originally posted by Saint Mike:
Nothing like a good march ...

And a game of two-up and a cold beer with mates.

Hi Joe and Penny
Joe: I hope you are having more than one day in the Centre, and that your stay includes the Dawn Service on Anzac Hill at the Alice, with Uluru as a backdrop. You might see the march in Brisbane, but if you don't, and you have a chance to watch TV, I doubt if you'll see much else apart from Anzac day ceremonies and activities. Maybe it's different in Qld. The day wasn't always so widely or enthusiastically celebrated. If you get a chance, read Alan Semour's "The one day of the year".

Penny: I was surprised to read your ps saying that shops operate as normal in tourist areas. Are they all exempt, and not expected to close voluntarily for the morning? Each State makes its own laws about shopping hours, but I understood from

http://www.wageline.qld.gov.au/anzacday/index.html
that restrictions were in place in Qld for Anzac Day. Have things changed since that page was last updated, or have I misunderstood it?

Hi, Mallee,

it's all the interpretation of what is deemed an exempt shop and what Joe is looking for, isn't it.

Yes, the large retail shops have to close until one pm. The smaller shops, deemed "food" shops will be open all day in the tourist areas. Many "food" shops in tourist areas also sell tourist paraphenalia.

Unfortuantely, even though ANZAC day is an important commemorative day for Australians, it isn't for tourists. These tourists expect the retail precincts to be open and the retailers often can't afford to close.

How many times do we read here on the BB how disapointed TT customers were because they were in "X" city and everything was closed?

Thanks for that clarification, Penny1. I remember seeing poor, bored tourists walking aimlessly through Adelaide on a Sunday afternoon (many years ago), and feeling an urge to take them on a guided tour, but I believe that there is more open now.

Mallee, retail law is a minefield.

Areas of Queensland are deemed "tourist destinations" in retail bylaw. So they operate under a very different set of rules. They are permitted to be open 7 days a week to cater for the tourist population. However a retail precinct in a town just 30 kilometres away, not deemed to be a tourist destination, must be closed on a Sunday.

Hi Penny1.
If I'd stopped to think about it, I suppose I should have realised that retail law is a minefield all over the world, and that I'll probably have problems with shops being shut in Europe "30 kilometres away" from tourist zones. I guess it's another indication that one must do one's research before setting out.

As I recall, it was even more complicated in Israel. Muslims closed on Friday, Jews on Saturday and Christians on Sunday! On the other hand, you could find each religion open on other peoples' sabbaths!

Here in New Zealand shops must be closed Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and until 1pm on ANZAC Day. There are exceptions with a few "tourist" towns/cities allowed to open on Easter Sunday....places like Taupo, Mt Maunganui and Queenstown....Other than the official holodays shops are generally open 7 days a week in just about all areas of the country.

I feel all the shops should be closed till 1pm except for essential services for tourists, it is the very least we can do in honouring our fallen service men and women.

We decided to wait until our last week-end in London to do our shopping, only to find the stores closed for the August Bank Holiday.
Chris; Welcome back- now would you please explain what a Bank Holiday is?
Take care;
Jo