If you’re organising accommodation for a sporting team, school group, or a squad of travelling parents ahead of an event at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex (CCRSRC), the logistics can quickly feel overwhelming. Rooms for mixed groups, meal planning, parking for a coach or minibus, and making sure everyone is rested before game day – it all adds up.
We’ve hosted enough sports groups and school teams to know what actually matters when you’re coordinating ten, twenty, or fifty people. This guide walks you through why ibis Styles The Entrance works so well as a base for CCRSRC events, and what to expect when you book with us.
The short version: We’re a 20-minute drive from CCRSRC at Tuggerah, we have free coach and minibus parking, family rooms sleeping up to five guests, and the Diggers Club next door handles group meals without any fuss. Our reservations team can tailor a group package around your specific event dates and needs.
Photo via CCRSRC Webste
The Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex sits on 18.28 hectares at Tuggerah and is one of the most significant multi-sport venues in regional New South Wales. It was built to host exactly the kind of large-scale, mass-participation events that bring hundreds of players, coaches, and families to the Central Coast from across the state.
The CCRSRC runs a packed calendar of events across a wide range of sports. In 2026 alone, the venue is hosting:
Touch football – NSW Touch Junior Regionals (April) and NSWCCC Touch Football Championships (April)
AFL – AFL Northern NSW Senior School Cup (May), AFL Hunter Central Coast Junior Reps Carnival (May), Swan Shield u16s AFL Gala Day (May)
Rugby union – NSWCHS u16 Rugby Union Trials (May), CC Rugby Union Magic Round (May)
Cross country – Tuggerah Lakes Zone Cross Country (May), Catholic Schools Broken Bay Cross Country (May)
School carnivals – Including Catholic Schools Broken Bay Soccer and various OOSH and school athletics events
That’s a significant amount of tournament traffic, and most of it involves groups travelling from outside the Central Coast who need somewhere practical to stay.
The complex includes nine playing fields, full amenities buildings with change rooms and canteen facilities, over 2km of shared pathways, 448 parking bays, and direct access to public transport via Tuggerah Station. It’s a well-run facility, but accommodation options nearby are limited. That’s where we come in.
We’re a 4-star design economy hotel with 52 rooms, situated at The Entrance North overlooking Tuggerah Lakes. That combination of quality and value is exactly what most group organisers are looking for: somewhere comfortable enough that players and parents are happy, priced sensibly enough that it doesn’t blow the budget.
Here’s what makes us a practical fit for CCRSRC groups specifically.
We’re approximately 20 minutes from CCRSRC by car via the M1. That’s close enough to be convenient for early morning game days, but far enough that your group gets a proper change of scene and can wind down after a long day on the field. The Entrance itself is a genuine coastal destination – Tuggerah Lakes, The Entrance Beach, and the town strip are all right on your doorstep.
One of the trickier parts of group accommodation is matching rooms to people. We have a range of options that make this easier:
Room Type | Capacity | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Family Rooms | Up to 5 guests | Team leaders, parent groups, larger families |
Twin Rooms | 2 guests | Player pairs, coaches sharing |
Queen Rooms | 1-2 guests | Individual players, chaperones, parents |
King Rooms | 1-2 guests | Coaches, team management |
Accessible Rooms | Available | Players or guests with additional needs |
This mix means you’re not forcing everyone into the same room type. School groups can put students in twins, coordinators in queens, and use family rooms for supervision staff who need to be close to younger players.
This one matters more than people realise. Arriving with a full-size coach or a fleet of minibuses and discovering there’s nowhere to park them is a genuine headache. We have free onsite parking with space for coaches and minibuses, so your transport logistics don’t become a problem the moment you pull in.
Meal planning for groups is one of the most time-consuming parts of the job. We have the Diggers Club located right next door, which means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are sorted without anyone having to coordinate a convoy to a restaurant. The Diggers Club can accommodate groups and offers a range of dining options suitable for athletes and families alike.
For group coordinators: Ask our reservations team about group dining packages when you enquire. We can help bundle accommodation and meals into a single arrangement, which simplifies invoicing and reduces the number of decisions you need to make on the ground.
Photo via CCRSRC Webste
School sports trips come with a different set of requirements to club or parent-led groups. Duty of care, supervision ratios, room placement, and sign-off processes all add layers of complexity that most hotels aren’t set up to help with.
We understand this and work with school coordinators to make it as straightforward as possible. A few things worth knowing:
Room placement flexibility: We can arrange rooms so that supervising teachers or coaches are positioned close to student rooms, which is often a requirement for school excursion policies.
Accessible rooms: Available for students or staff with additional needs, and we can discuss specific requirements ahead of arrival.
Flexible check-in and check-out: Tournament schedules don’t always align with standard hotel times. Talk to us about your schedule and we’ll do what we can to accommodate early arrivals or late departures.
Group invoicing: We can issue a single group invoice, which simplifies the reimbursement process for school finance teams.
Free WiFi throughout: Students and staff can stay connected without burning through mobile data.
School sport coordinators: The events calendar at CCRSRC includes a significant number of Catholic Schools, CHS, and public school carnivals throughout the year. If you’re planning ahead for a term event, it’s worth reaching out early – school groups tend to book out blocks of rooms, and availability around major carnival weekends fills quickly.
Photo via DNSW
Not everyone travelling to a CCRSRC event is part of the official team booking. Parents, grandparents, and supporters often want to make a weekend of it – watch the game, explore the coast, and avoid the long drive home the same night.
ibis Styles The Entrance is a genuinely good base for this. The Entrance North is one of the more relaxed spots on the Central Coast, and there’s enough to keep non-sporting family members occupied while the athletes are on the field.
The Entrance Beach – A patrolled beach a short walk from the hotel, suitable for all ages
Tuggerah Lakes – Flat water, pelican feeding at The Entrance, walking tracks, and calm conditions for kids
The Entrance town centre – Cafes, takeaway, local shops, and a relaxed atmosphere
Westfield Tuggerah – A large shopping centre roughly 15 minutes away, useful for grabbing supplies or keeping kids entertained on rest days
Wyrrabalong National Park – Coastal walks and native bushland for families wanting something more active
For parents staying independently of the main team block, we’d recommend booking early for popular tournament weekends. The Central Coast draws big numbers for state-level events, and The Entrance fills up faster than people expect.
Group bookings work differently to individual reservations, and we’d always recommend contacting our reservations team directly rather than booking online. Here’s why: online booking engines aren’t built for groups. They won’t show you room block availability, can’t apply group rates, and won’t let you coordinate room placement or dining packages in a single conversation.
Get in touch early – ideally 6 to 8 weeks before your event date, especially for major CCRSRC tournament weekends
Tell us your group size, room requirements, and event dates – we’ll check availability and put together a tailored quote
Confirm your room block – we’ll hold rooms while you finalise numbers with your group
Sort the extras – group dining, accessible room requirements, parking for coaches, flexible check-in times
Arrive and focus on the game – the logistics are sorted, so your group can concentrate on performing
We’re used to working with team managers, school coordinators, and club administrators. If you have specific requirements – staggered check-ins, a request to keep certain rooms together, dietary considerations for group dining – just ask. We’d rather sort it upfront than have you managing it on arrival day.
Approximately 20 minutes by car via the M1 freeway. The route is straightforward and well-signposted.
Yes. We have free onsite parking with space for coaches and minibuses. Let us know your vehicle details when you book so we can confirm the right spot is available.
Yes. We work with school coordinators to arrange rooms in a way that supports supervision ratios and duty of care requirements. Speak to our reservations team about your specific needs.
Our family rooms accommodate up to 5 guests. For larger groups, we can arrange multiple rooms across the hotel.
Yes. Accessible rooms are available and designed to ensure comfort and ease of movement. Please advise us of any accessibility requirements at the time of booking.
We offer tailored group pricing. Contact our reservations team directly for a quote based on your group size, dates, and room requirements.
The Diggers Club is located right next door and can accommodate groups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We can help coordinate group dining packages as part of your booking.
For major CCRSRC tournament weekends, we recommend at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance. School carnival periods and state-level events book out quickly across the Central Coast.
