Anzac Day in pictures

Australians and New Zealanders have gathered to commemorate Anzac Day, attending dawn services across the country to honour Australia's fallen soldiers, as the centenary of Gallipoli nears.

Tens of thousands of people stood motionless in the darkness to remember their fallen countrymen and women as they marked the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915.

More than 30,000 attended the service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, a large increase on previous years, while some 40,000 packed the lawns beneath the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, and thousands filled Sydney's Martin Place.

Below are some of today's best pictures.

Moments before kick off at the traditional Anzac Day Essendon vs Collingwood AFL match in Melbourne. (AAP)

(Two pictures) Diggers have some fun as they march or hitch a ride down Bathurst Street in Sydney for the Anzac Day parade. (Getty)

Guns firing at a Port Adelaide RSL service this morning.

And now it's two-up time.

A bagpiper outside the MCG ahead of the traditional AFL Anzac Day match between Essendon and Collingwood. (AAP)

War veteran Simbeon Baker, 84, from Papua New Guinea marches as he heads towards the Shrine of Remembrance during the ANZAC Day Parade on St. Kilda Road in Melbourne. (AAP)

Australian and Thai delegates attend a ceremony at Hellfire Pass in Kanchanaburi province, western Thailand. (Getty)

Servicemen walk during Melbourne's Anzac parade near the Shrine of Remembrance. (AAP)

SBS journalist Rhiannon Elston attended the dawn service at Martin Place, Sydney. Watch her report below.

A digger makes his way along the Sydney Anzac Day parade in the back of a jeep. (AAP)

Rather than get up early, it looks like pilgrims to the Anzac Cove service have camped out overnight.

Melbourne's Anzac Day parade. (AAP)

Seven Aussie former PoWs -- all reportedly in their nineties -- made the long trip to Hellfire Pass for an Anzac day commemoration.

A big turnout for a service at Southport, Queensland.

Members of the Albert Battery prepare to shoot a volley of fire during the ANZAC dawn service at Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club. (AAP)

Soldiers stand outside teh War Memorial Museum in Auckland, New Zealand for an Anzac dawn service. (AAP)

Prime Minster Julia Gillard lays a wreath at the Townsville dawn service at ANZAC Park. (AAP)

Ex army nurse Dorothy Fraser reads a book as she reserves a spot for her fellow "old nurses" to watch the ANZAC Day parade later in the morning in Brisbane. (AAP)

Diggers march through Sydney's major streets.

Watch: The Anzac dawn service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

SBS journalist Rhiannon Elston attended the Martin Place dawn service in Sydney.

Laying a wreath at the Martin Place cenotaph, Sydney.

Sky News Melbourne Bureau Chief Ahron Young at the Melbourne Anzac Day march.

Diggers pause for remembrance at the Martin Place dawn service in Sydney. (AAP)

Australian Rugby Union player, Morgan Turinui, pausing for Anzac Day in France where he plays for rugby side Stade Francais.

And from Australia's sporting rivals across the Tasman, All Black Dan Carter attended a dawn service this morning.

Huge crowds turn up to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for the dawn service.

Indigenous soldier Major Joseph West talks to Living Black's Allan Clarke, reflecting on his 20-year career with the Australian Defence Force.

Labor Senator Penny Wong at the South Australian war memorial.

The Anzac day ceremony at the Martin Place cenotaph in Sydney.

Liberal Party politician Malcolm Turnbull attending a local dawn service at North Bondi, Sydney.

Wheelchair racer and Paralympian, Kurt Fearnley attended the Nobby's Beach dawn service in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Mr Keith Norrish (left), Bill Grayden (centre) and Ron Wiseman (right) during the Brigadier Arnold Potts sword presentation held at Kings Park War Memorial in Perth yesterday. (AAP)