Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre
Set on 118 hectares of coastal land minutes from National Parks and rainforests, Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre is surrounded by water.
The rugged Lennox Head coastline is on one side of the centre and Lake Ainsworth on the other. Come and see the best of the far north coast without the crowds.
The centre is only 15 minutes from Ballina Airport and a stone’s throw from:
- The relaxed beach vibe of Byron Bay and glitz of the Gold Coast
- Cape Byron, Australia’s most easterly point
- Lush sub-tropical rainforests and National Parks.
With its relaxed beauty and convenient location, come and stay at Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre and discover why so many people keep coming back.
Location
Bundjalung country
164 Camp Drewe Rd
Lennox Head NSW 2478
Facilities
Accommodation options for 290 guests
25-metre swimming pool
Tennis courts
Indoor basketball court
BBQ area
Multi-purpose hall
Conference rooms
Playing fields
Gym facilities for specialist sporting programs
Aerial shot of Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre
Activities
Participants learn the art of using a bow and target arrows, all in a safe environment.
A new and fun dodgeball style strategy-based game. players aim to score points a variety of ways using soft tipped arrows.
A range of activities and games are designed to ensure participants get the most out of the beach location.
Using single blade paddles, participants paddle in 2 or 3 seated canoes around the local waterways.
A great teamwork activity where groups build and light a campfire and cook some authentic damper.
This is an introduction to the history, swordsmanship skills and etiquette of the modern Olympic sport.
A series of tailored challenges set to teams or individuals to successfully work through.
Participants use double-bladed paddles to manoeuvre and control their single or 2 seated craft as they traverse the waterways.
Learn to identify marine life and see parts of the waterways that you may have missed as you examine the local waterways.
Participants learn basic navigation skills as groups work together to find their way around the centre.
Come summer, a frenzy of games are hosted in the swimming pool provide a great occasion for participants to cool off and have fun.
A water-based team activity where participants are given equipment to build a raft.
Scale a vertical wall in a harness that is attached to a safety line.
Participants are taught about the basics of sailing including rigging and learning to understand the weather.
Participants take turns to slide down a wet and soapy tarpaulin.
Participants stand up on a large board and use a paddle to move through the water.
A fun teamwork activity where groups race around the centre to complete a variety of physical, mental and social challenges!
Learn and experience aspects of Indigenous games, sports and culture. This activity includes boomerang throwing.
Participants are put through a series of team building initiatives on the water.
Accommodation
Self-contained accommodation
Our popular, self-contained accommodation provides the perfect base to relax and restore after a day of exploring and adventures. Choose from a wide selection of self-contained cottages, villas and beachside lodge in a variety of configurations that sleep 4 to 30 people. All have a bathroom, kitchen and access to a laundry. Guests have complimentary use of the swimming pool and tennis courts.
- Minimum 2 night stay
- 4 units available
- Self-contained accommodation for up to 16 people
- Suitable for groups or families
- Each unit sleeps 4 people in 4 single beds
- Bathroom, living area, kitchen and verandah
- Private beach access
- Nearby BBQ area.
- Catered options available (minimum 30 people)
- Shared laundry.
- Minimum 2 night stay
- 5 villas available
- Self-contained accommodation for up to 20 people
- Suitable for groups or families
- Each villa sleeps 4 people in 4 single beds
- Bathroom, living area, kitchen, full laundry and storage
- Private beach access
- Nearby BBQ area.
- Catered options available (minimum 30 people)
- Minimum 2 night stay
- One lodge available
- Self-contained accommodation for up to 30 people
- 4 rooms with ensuite, 3 single beds and 2 bunks and one room with ensuite and 2 single beds
- Bathroom, living area, kitchen and storage
- Close to beach
- BBQ
- Catered options available (minimum 30 people).
Cottages
Group accommodation
Our catered dormitory-style lodge accommodation sleeps 6 to 12 people per room and includes ensuites and a shared laundry.
Accessible accommodation is available for people with a disability.
Weekend catered programs are available for groups of 50 or more and include accommodation and three meals per day Friday dinner to Sunday lunch.
- Catered accommodation for 210 people
- Suitable for school, community and sporting groups
- 12 lodges with 6 bunk beds and ensuite
- 2 lodges with 4 bunk beds and ensuite
- One accessible lodge with 9 bunk beds and accessible bathroom
- 2 lodges with 3 bunk beds and ensuite.
Lodge
Camps
"The centre gave us the opportunity to spend time with family, enjoy a great location, plenty of activities and meet other people. Staff were brilliant."
Family camp participant
"On behalf of the NRL Cronulla Sharks, I would like to share what a fantastic experience we had at our recent pre-season training camp in 2024 at Lake Ainsworth Sport & Recreation Centre.
Over the course of the week the facility catered for all our training needs which saved us the inconvenience of having to travel off site for certain training programs. This also gave us some great time to bond closer together as a club. This is something that is very hard to do in the normal day to day training at home. The facility catered for the below:
- Field training
- Strength training
- Wrestle & Contact sessions indoors
- Recovery in both the Olympic pool & ice baths
- Cardio (off-feet) training
On top of this, the kitchen catered for all three meals each day and they catered as per our dietician requests for the players. This saved us time from having to jump in cars or hire buses for off site meals.
The staff went above and beyond to help us each day, as much as they were a part of the team.
As a one stop shop, I would have no hesitations in recommending Lake Ainsworth to any professional sporting organisation for an ideal place to get away and train."
NRL Cronulla Sharks