Full day Australian Battlefields Tour
Description
This tour brings the Australian story on the Somme to life through heartfelt storytelling, deep knowledge, and a true passion for remembrance. Guided with warmth and care for visitors’ comfort, it offers a thoughtful and memorable way to walk in the footsteps of Australian soldiers. While this is not a tailor-made tour and follows a set itinerary described in the tour details, there is flexibility to include a stop to visit the grave of a relative buried in a CWGC cemetery if it fits sensibly along the route.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Amiens Cathedral is, this year celebrating its 800 years birthday! She is the largest gothic cathedral in the world. On your way to Villers-Bretonneux your guide will tell you all about the cathedral and also about the city of Amiens from the Middle Ages to now. You will discover the lovely rolling landscape of the Somme whilst learning about French local economy and culture.
Standing on the ground of the Australian Memorial, your guide will tell you about the part Australia played in WW1; especially on the Western Front as well as the details of the counter-attack led by the Allies in April 1918. Australian troops displayed great bravery in this battle but also suffered terrible losses. Time will be allocated to pay your respect on the graves of the “Diggers”. Only a short walk away is the “Sir John Monash Centre “where you have an hour to go around.
The «Sir John Monash Centre» tells Australia’s story of the Western Front in the words of those who served. This cutting-edge multimedia centre reveals the Australian Western Front experience through a series of interactive media installations and immersive experiences. Visitors will get a better understanding of the journey of ordinary Australians — told in their own voices through letters, diaries and life-size images — and connect with the places they fought and died. A visit to the Sir John Monash Centre will be a moving experience that leaves a lasting impression.
The “Australian National Memorial” is at the heart of Villers-Bretonneux CWGC cemetery. It was inaugurated on the 22nd of July 1922 by King George VI and is the last memorial of the Great War to have been erected. On its walls are engraved the names of 10 729 Australian servicemen. Every year, on the 25th of April thousands of people gather on this site at dawn, to commemorate “ANZAC day”.
Your tour now takes you in the valley of the Somme and in the village of Chipilly where we will have a brief stop to admire the “58th British Division Memorial”. This superb stone monument representing a soldier comforting his wounded horse was inaugurated in 1922. It is the work of the French sculptor: Henri Gauquié. It pay tribute to the men of the 58th Division but also to the thousands of horses who lost their lives during the Great War.
From the “Camp Cesar viewpoint” you will get a fantastic panoramic view of the valley of the Somme which gave its name to the famous “Battle of the Somme” in 1916. On our way to Albert we will to talk about the beginning of the Battle, the reasons why it was planned and the different nations which took part in it.
The “Basilica Notre Dame de Brebières”, is of Neo-Byzantine style and was built at the end of the 19th Century. Its unusual architecture makes it one of the most important edifice in Picardy. Entirely destroyed during the Great War, she was reconstructed identically by the son of original architect: Edmond Duthoit. Its dome is covered with gold sheets bares the statue of the Virgin Marie holding baby Jesus. Your guide will tell you the story attached to this statue which happened during WW1
We will take an hour for lunch
You are now in the sector of the Battle of the Somme of 1916. «Lochnagar Crater » was created by a large mine placed beneath the German front lines on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, it was one of 19 mines that were placed beneath the German lines from the British section of the Somme front, to assist the infantry advance at the start of the battle. This impressive site is 70 feet deep and 330 feet wide which makes it the largest crater in the Somme.
Australian official historian Charles Bean would say about Pozières that it "is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth." Pozières, sadly is well known to the Australians. Almost 7000 men lost their lives here. The “1st Australian Memorial” site will be where your guide will tell you all about this terrible battle which took place between the 23rd of July and the 3rd of September 1916.
The Windmill site at Pozières was established as an Australian memorial in the 1930s at the suggestion of Australia's official war historian, Charles Bean. It commemorates the 23 000 casualties; some of which died in the surrounding countryside. Just opposite this site stands the “Tank Memorial” which will give us the opportunity to talk about the part played by the tanks on the Western front but also about modern warfare
"Mouquet Farm"
The “Memorial of the Missing” The “Memorial of the Missing” is the largest British War Memorial in the world. This imposing monument overlooks the surrounding rolling countryside. On its walls are engraved the names of over 72 000 soldiers who are rather missing or whose bodies were found but not identified. Here we will talk about military tactics and also about the notion of being “missing” and what it meant for all the families of those soldiers.
The Ulster Tower is Northern Ireland's national war memorial. It was one of the first Memorials to be erected on the Western Front and commemorates the men of the 36th Division and all those from Ulster who served in the First World War. The memorial was officially opened on 19 November 1921. From the top of the hill, in the opposite field, you can still see the traces of the Battle of the Somme frontlines and the remains of a German machinegun post.
The Newfoundland Memorial Park is the largest battlefield site in the Somme and memorial dedicated to all Newfoundlanders who served during the First World War. The Battle of the Somme was the first major engagement of the regiment where they suffered staggering losses on the 1st of July 1916. The ground, purchased in 1921 by the women of Newfoundland and their government has become the symbol of sacrifice and a source of identity of the island.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
WIILL WEAR MY GUIDE BADGE
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(116)
Dianne contacted us prior to our tour to introduce herself and find out more on our family history. She took the time to research the history and where and what we would like to see on our tour. I can say if you are looking for a tour in this area, do not look past this fantastic lady with all the knowledge and passion in this subject.
Brigitte was an excellent guide. Her knowledge of the region was exceptional. Our whole trip was outstanding. Highly recommend.
What a day. This was very important to me personally as I wanted to see where my Grandfather served in WW1 and Brigitte made the day unforgettable She enquired in advance about what we wanted to see and when I told her about my plans she did some research on my grandfather and was able to customise the tour to accommodate. She is a local to the Somme region and her knowledge and enthusiasm was fantastic and made it into a very special day for us This something that every Australian should do so you can appreciate just how revered our diggers are in that part of France and the lasting connection we have to places like Villers Bretennoux The John Monash Centre is fantastic and a highlight and great vantage point to view the Somme Valley.
Many thanks David for your great review, all the best, Brigitte
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Exceptional WW1 Experience — Bridget Was Simply Outstanding! Our full-day privately guided WW1 battlefield tour, booked through Viator, was without question one of the very best experiences we have had during our nine-week European holiday. From our initial contact with Bridget months before the tour, right through to being dropped back at our accommodation at the end of an incredible day, she was absolutely exceptional. Bridget is a local from Amiens, and her knowledge of the battlefields, the history and, importantly, the stories of the men who fought and died here was extraordinary. What really set Bridget apart, however, was her genuine passion and personal connection to what she does. It was immediately obvious that this isn’t simply a job for Bridget — she has a deep respect for the history and for those who served and sacrificed their lives. Her knowledge brought the battlefields to life. Rather than simply taking us from one memorial or battlefield to another, Bridget explained what happened, where it happened, why it mattered and, most importantly, helped us understand the human stories behind the history. Another wonderful aspect of the day was Bridget’s relationships with many of the people working at the various sites we visited. Her local connections and friendships added another special dimension to the tour and made us feel like we were experiencing these places with someone who genuinely belongs to this community. We were travelling with our 16-year-old daughter, Edith, and Bridget went out of her way to make sure Edith was included and engaged throughout the day. That meant a great deal to us. Bridget has a wonderful ability to communicate the history in a way that captures the attention of people of different ages and interests. The highlight of the day for us was the John Monash Centre. It is an outstanding memorial and a deeply moving tribute to the Australian soldiers who served and fell here. Experiencing it with Bridget, who was able to provide the history and context behind what we were seeing, made the visit even more powerful. At the end of the day, we didn’t simply feel like we had completed a tour — we felt that we had experienced something meaningful and had gained a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the sacrifice made by so many Australians and others during WW1. Bridget deserves every accolade she can receive. Her professionalism, warmth, knowledge, commitment and passion were evident throughout the entire day. She genuinely cares about the history she shares and the people she takes through it, and that shines through in everything she does. If you are visiting Amiens and considering a WW1 battlefield tour, do yourself a favour and book with Bridget. We could not recommend her highly enough. 10/10 doesn’t even begin to describe the experience. Thank you, Bridget, for an unforgettable day and for helping our family connect with such an important part of history. 🇦🇺❤️🇫🇷 Absolutely exceptional. Highly recommended.
whoua!! what can I say?! ... the best review I ever had! many thanks for taking the time. All the best, Brigitte
This was a tremendous experience. I am a veteran and knew a lot about the Australian experience in WW1 but still found this a fantastic tour. Brigitte is extremely knowledgeable and well researched and brings to each location detailed tactical maps, photos and eyewitness accounts that bring the history to life. The visits during the tour were great but standing on the battlefields, identifying where you are on her excellent maps and walking the ground that the Anzacs did 110 years ago is very moving. Brigitte helped me identify four individuals at VB so I cou commemorate them individually
Thank you David for your great review, all the best, Brigitte
Great day had. Brigitte was an amazing guide and had a wealth of knowledge about all aspects of the battles that took place. Another bonus is Brigitte doesn't do large groups and I found this was way better and can fully engage. Highly recommend
Many thanks for your great review All the best, Brigitte
Strongly suggest if you have a car, do it yourself. All the information is at the Monash Centre. In the end it’s a half day Tour for what you need to really see. Our guide tried to make it into a full day which I cut short because a fair bit of details on the way for example the way people farm etc which is really irrelevant for people who come from so far for only one reason. So this what I mean by it’s not a Tour for a 9 hour day and for the amount of money we paid. I don’t know who decides the price or how long the tour is for but I regret booking. Lastly, when you pay that sort of money, you expect to be driven around in a vehicle that’s acceptable. This vehicle was not only far from acceptable in its cleanliness inside but condition was also unacceptable. The car smelt the whole time and it wouldn’t lock, we were told because of all the work there's no opportunity to get it fixed. Well I didn’t pay a discounted price, I paid a full price expecting a professional experience. The map that we kept getting shown had been through the washing machine. I am considering asking Viator for my $719.00 back.
Dear [Guest Name], Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. I am genuinely sorry that my tour did not meet your expectations. Having guided visitors across the Somme battlefields for many years, I have been fortunate to receive consistently positive feedback from guests who value not only my historical knowledge but also the care, flexibility and enthusiasm that I bring to each tour. For that reason, I was saddened to read your comments, as they do not reflect either the experience that I strive to provide or the feedback I usually receive from my guests. I would, however, like to clarify a few points for the benefit of future travellers. Before we departed from your hotel in Amiens, I informed you that my vehicle had a temporary issue with the remote locking system. I believe in being completely transparent with my guests, and I apologised for this inconvenience. The issue affected only the locking mechanism and not the safe operation of the vehicle. I have since ensured that the problem has been addressed. I do, however, respectfully disagree with your comments regarding the cleanliness of my vehicle. The day before your tour I had thoroughly washed the exterior and carefully cleaned the entire interior using professional automotive cleaning products. I take considerable pride in presenting both myself and my vehicle to the highest standard, and I simply do not recognise the description given in your review. I would also like to clarify why the tour ended earlier than scheduled. During the day, you explained that your wife was not particularly interested in First World War history and asked whether we could shorten the itinerary. I was more than happy to accommodate your wishes, as I always try to tailor my tours to my guests’ interests. At your request, we still visited Villers-Bretonneux, Pozières and the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont-Hamel before returning to Amiens. The decision to finish earlier was therefore made at your request rather than because of any concern about the vehicle. Regarding the content of the tour, my intention has always been to offer more than simply transporting visitors from one memorial to another. I explain how the landscape shaped the battles, how the region has recovered since the war, and the wider historical context that helps visitors understand what they are seeing. Many guests have told me that these explanations are among the most memorable parts of the day, although I fully appreciate that every traveller has different expectations and interests. I am genuinely sorry that my style of guiding was not what you were looking for. Nevertheless, I remain proud of the care and dedication that I put into every tour and will continue to provide the comprehensive battlefield experience that so many of my guests have enjoyed over the years. I wish you both well for the remainder of your travels. Kind regards
This experience was way better than what we had expected. Our guide Brigitte was extremely knowledgeable as she grew up in and around Amiens. We were in a group of 4 adults so we were able to absorb everything easily. It was expensive but worth every cent! A full day was needed to see and learn.
Many thanks Bronny for your lovely comment! All the best, Brigitte
Thus was a bucket list item for me - and the entire process was brilliant , from booking to the actual tour was perfect. The communications was clear from the start and the overall tour was perfect. I cannot recommend this enough from an Australian point of view, Barbara (my guide) was so professional and clearly explained everything and the tour did not feel rushed. If you are an Australian looking for a Guided tour of WWI Battlefields then this is the one you want.
Many thanks for your great review! All the best, Brigitte
As an Australian who has read about Australia's involvement in the First World War, and especially their involvement on the Western Front, this was an exceptional tour and to see where they fought and the commemorations to those who fought the Germans is a very emotional experience. Our guide, Brigitte, was very knowledgeable and was an exceptional guide. A great day and an experience any Australian should not miss.
Many thanks Nicole for your great review! All the best, Brigitte
