 The invasion plan was for the 29th Division to land at Cape Helles on the tip of the peninsula and then advance upon the forts at Kilitbahir . The Anzacs were to land north of Gaba Tepe on the Aegean coast from where they could advance across the peninsula and prevent retreat from or reinforcement of Kilitbahir . The Anzac assault force , the 3rd Brigade of the Australian 1st Division , began to go ashore shortly before dawn at 4 : 30 am on 25 April 1915 . The intended landing zone was a broad front centred about a mile north of Gaba Tepe , however , possibly due to navigational error or an unexpected current , the landing went awry and the boats concentrated about a mile and a half further north than intended in a shallow , nameless cove between Ari Burnu to the north and Hell Spit to the south . Since 1985 , the cove has been officially known as Anzac Koyu ( Anzac Cove ) . 
