The national Anzac Day ceremony was watched by thousands on Saturday morning — broadcast from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, as people stay home amid coronavirus restrictions.

The National Commemorative dawn service was attended by a handful of leaders and veterans.

In his address, Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged changes to the service this year caused by COVID-19.

But he said this was not the first time Anzac Day traditions had been interrupted and though quieter than usual, the service was no less meaningful.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Jenny Morrison lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. ( AAP: Alex Ellinghausen/Pool )

"Our remembrances today small, quiet and homely will be," he said.

"On Anzac Day 1919, the first after the Great War, there were no city marches or parades for returning veterans because we were battling the Spanish Flu pandemic. Though our streets were empty, the returning veterans were not forgotten."

The service commenced with the sounding of the didgeridoo, played by Seaman Lynton Robbins, a Kamilaroi man of the Royal Australian Navy.

The Australian Federation Guard then mounted a catafalque party, at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier.

Following Mr Morrison's address and the laying of wreaths, Returned Service Nurse, Wing Commander Sharon Bown, spoke on behalf of the veteran community.

Seaman Lynton Robbins, Royal Australian Navy, plays the didgeridoo during the Anzac Day Commemorative Service in Canberra. ( AAP: The Australian War Memorial/Sean Davey )

Wing Commander Bown, a descendant of the Anzacs, spoke of her great uncle, who landed at Gallipoli 105 years ago.

A stretcher bearer, he rescued the wounded under fire for two years, until he was killed on the Western Front.

"Like all who landed at Gallipoli that day, he was a man who lived his life in the service of others," she said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 53 seconds 3 m 53 s Governor-General David Hurley paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of Australians in his first Anzac Day address.

Wing Commander Bown called on Australians to do more today than just honour those who have defended the nation.

"In this time of crisis, let us realise the innate capacity within each of us, to do the same," she said.

"To unite and protect the more vulnerable among us. To realise that qualities for which we honour the Anzacs live on in each of us — endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, mateship and devotion to duty, to each other, to Australia — lest we forget."

Crowds weren't allowed at the Australian War Memorial, so families gathered at home. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )

People pay respect from home

Many children around the country played The Last Post for their neighbours. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )

RSLs around the country have asked Australians to take a moment to mark their respects from home.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 37 seconds 37 s Australians hold driveway dawn services for Anzac Day

People around the country stood outside their homes to observe a minute's silence and honour those who have served.

The Rhoades family gathers outside their home in Canberra for a unique Anzac Day dawn service. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts )

While others played the Last Post in the streets outside — or in one Queensland girl's case — the paddock outside.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 42 seconds 1 m 42 s Last Post played on violin in a Queensland paddock

Victoria

The service inside Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance was brief due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Residents in Clara Street, Macleod gather at dawn on Anzac Day in Melbourne. ( AAP: Scott Barbour )

Governor Linda Dessau paid her respects, laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance, before leaving the shrine to the sounds of bagpipes just before dawn.

In a pre-recorded speech, she said just because this Anzac Day would be "like no other" it did not mean we should not show our respect to all of the veterans and families who gave so much and "ask for so little".

Mentone Grammar School Grade 7 student Anika Cherney plays The Last Post on the cello in her driveway on Anzac Day. ( Supplied: Alex Cherney )

She acknowledged the changed arrangements this year would be difficult for veterans and their families for whom the day has "a very personal significance".

"But perhaps we can reflect in a new way on why Anzac Day still unites us so profoundly," she said.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 2 minutes 6 seconds 2 m 6 s Anzac Day is marked with a dawn service in Melbourne, with For the Fallen and the Last Post performed at the war memorial

She paid tribute to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for its work during the "awful" bushfires of the summer.

Small Anzac services have been held across regional Victoria, with a lone bugler playing the Last Post from the Horsham memorial in western Victoria.

A small Anzac Day service was held in Horsham, in western Victoria. ( ABC News: Sean Wales )

Don Pirouet from the Horsham RSL said he heard others playing the Last Post around the town just before 6:00am.

"It's quite heartfelt, just before we started [playing] to hear the Last Post sort of played in the background, it does reflect on community that they do still support even in these tough times," he said.

Mr Pirouet said it was special to see the different ways people have found to mark Anzac Day this year.

A candle burns at dawn in Melbourne's west next to a photo of Glen Bottam, who served in World War II. ( ABC News: Patrick Rocca )

"As much as it's a tough time we are going through with self-isolation, how innovative people have been remembering today, the different ways and methods, it's very, very heartfelt," he said.

Queensland

With many Queenslanders paying their respects from their driveways and balconies, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner held a small Anzac Day dawn service that was livestreamed to the public.

A child plays the last post on the morning of Anzac Day at The Gap in Brisbane. ( Supplied: Kirsten Macgregor )

Others lit up the dawn with candlelight vigils, with several people playing The Last Post in their neighbourhoods.

John Sexton plays the cornet in Cairns this morning. ( ABC News: Kristy Sexton-McGrath )

Ryan Hampson, 12, said this morning it was a great honour to play The Last Post on his trombone at Lota on Brisbane's bayside.

"It is important because people won't be going to memorials so at least when people play the last post on their driveway they'll think about the Anzacs," he said.

People commemorate Anzac Day at dawn on Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast. ( AAP: Dave Hunt )

At Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast, residents marked the occasion with a stirring rendition of the Last Post played from a kayak.

National champion soprano cornet player Fendall Hill said he was determined to mark Anzac Day this year.

Residents gathered kerbside this morning to remember the fallen in the Brisbane suburb of Deagon. ( ABC News: Tim Swanston )

"With everyone not able to get out to the commemorations this morning, I thought I just better do what I could in terms of being a brass player," he said.

Regimental Sergeant Major of 3rd Brigade Mark Retallick sits alone at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville listening to the dawn service on the wireless before laying a wreath. ( ABC News: Siobhan Heanue )

New South Wales

At the Sydney Opera House, Adam Malone from the NSW Police Band performed The Last Post in a special dawn performance.

The performance, in support of the RSL's Light Up the Dawn initiative encouraging people to commemorate Anzac Day at home, was livestreamed on the Opera House's Facebook page and has been viewed nearly 100,000 times.

Elsewhere in NSW, a stirring rendition of The Last Post was performed by Timothy Rees at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 2 minutes 48 seconds 2 m 48 s Last Post sounded at Sydney Opera House

The sound was amplified and heard within a 10 kilometre radius around the region.

Balconies surrounding the stadium were dotted with people watching on and holding their own commemorative service.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 43 seconds 1 m 43 s National Anthem at Sydney Anzac Day service

Acting NSW RSL president Ray James said travel restrictions may have worked in favour of the event.

"More people I'd say commemorated Anzac Day at home, and that in itself is something," he said.

"It can show that Australians can adapt to the situation that we have to under this current circumstances, so I think it was beautiful."

Vietnam veteran Peter McFarlane held a dawn service in the Sydney suburb of Ingleburn. ( ABC News: Sarah Thomas )

About 40 people stood in a cul-de-sac in the south-west Sydney suburb of Ingleburn, as local Vietnam veteran Peter McFarlane held a dawn service for the community.

The street was lined with candles and mailboxes decorated with poppies, with the crowd assembled to hear The Last Post and the Australian and New Zealand anthems.

Tasmania

The eternal flame burning at Hobart Cenotaph on Anzac Day eve. ( ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough )

RSL Tasmania will hold a private service in Hobart at 11:30am with Premier Peter Gutwein and Minister for Veterans Affairs Guy Barnett.

Dawn looking over the Derwent River in Hobart. ( ABC News: Michael Dalla Fontana )

Although it is not open to the public, the event will be broadcast live on the ABC TV news channel, local radio and the ABC Radio Hobart and Northern Tasmania Facebook pages.

South Australia

Up to 20 people gathered at Adelaide's National War Memorial for the Anzac Day dawn service this morning to honour the fallen who lost their lives.

People stood at least 1.5 metres apart due to strict social distancing measures.

People gather early on Saturday at Adelaide's National War Memorial for Anzac Day commemorations. ( ABC News: Helen Frost )

This year marks the 75th anniversary of many World War II events including the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in Japan.

RSL Anzac Day committee chairman Ian Smith said it was important to acknowledge the many men and women who would be missing their mates today.

Northern Territory

In the Northern Territory, Darwin army veterans quietly took to their driveways at dawn to pay respects to Australia's fallen diggers.

A small group of people gathered at Darwin's cenotaph this morning, with the bugle call played by former RSL vice-president Bill Buckley.

People who were out on their early morning runs stopped to pay their respects, while others across the Territory stood at the front of their driveways holding candles to commemorate fallen Anzacs.

Neil Ross plays the bagpipes at a dawn service in Alice Springs. ( ABC News: Samantha Jonscher )

In Alice Springs, a small gathering came together on Anzac Hill to tune in to the national dawn service broadcast and listen to local bagpiper Neil Ross perform.

"It would be so full usually, overflowing into the car park," Mr Ross said.

"It's very emotional this morning because this wasn't structured, it's just people here because they want to be here."

Western Australia

There was no official ceremony at the State War Memorial in Perth, with police standing by to prevent crowds from gathering.

Like the rest of the country, families gathered in front of their properties to mark the occasion.

Anzac of the year Lance Corporal David Scott performed the Last Post for neighbours at his Perth retirement village. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

Rain fell on those who rose for dawn in Perth, as many listened to a pre-recorded message from Premier Mark McGowan.

"This is obviously a very different kind of Anzac Day. The fact that we are marking this solemn occasion separately, self-isolated and socially distanced, these are challenging and difficult times," he said.

"Anzac Day is a time when West Australians of all ages, of all walks of life came together in the cold dark mornings and found comfort and solace in remembrance.

Vernon Daulby, his wife Beth and Shannon Hartwell on horseback gathered on their driveway in Bridgetown. ( ABC News: Jacquie Lynch )

"This year, coming together in person just isn't possible — the health risks are just far too great, especially for the older members of our community, especially our older veterans.

"However, I take comfort in the fact that all around this great state, West Australians will mark Anzac Day in their own ways."

One man's solo pilgrimage across the Turkish peninsula

As the world grapples with unprecedented coronavirus restrictions, one man has found a special way to pay tribute to those killed in Gallipoli — by undertaking a solo pilgrimage of the Turkish peninsula.

Burak Gundogan, the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's country manager for Turkey, set out to lay wreaths on behalf of those who would have attended this year's cancelled Anzac Day commemorations.

Burak Gundogan set out to lay wreaths on behalf of those who would have attended this year's cancelled Anzac Day commemorations. ( Supplied: Commonwealth War Grave Commission )

Mr Gundogan visited Lone Pine Cemetery, Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial and the Helles Memorial alone, safely conducting a heartfelt gesture of remembrance.

"Usually our cemeteries and memorials would be filled with people paying their respects on Anzac Day but that's just not possible right now," he said.

"I was lucky to be in the unique position of being able to do something on behalf of the Commonwealth community and show that these men are no less remembered today."

"I hope this small act of remembrance from here in Turkey can show that wherever we are in the world and whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, it is still possible to pause and reflect on the generations before us."