Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.8° C
0.2° 

Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 22s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 21s period, S swell with 7,771 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 11s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Castlepoint - The Gap this week:

The surf forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Castlepoint - The Gap in the next 16 days are 3.0m 21s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Sun 12th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 11s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 18th Jul)8ft (2.4m) 22s
Most Powerful12AM (Sun 19th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 21s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.


G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at the forecast for Castlepoint – The Gap. This is a sheltered little beginner spot, and it’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a real standout window if you’re patient.

We’re starting off with a bit of a quiet spell. Sunday the 12th has a small 3ft south-southwest swell with a 13-second period, and the water temp is around 55°, which is pretty much average for this time of year. The morning light breeze has the surface clean, but the swell’s tiny. It’s a light day for energy (427). That afternoon, a cross-shore breeze kills it off completely. Monday and Tuesday are even smaller, with the combined energy dropping right down to 41 on Tuesday afternoon. We’ve got a few days there with nothing to write home about.

Wednesday the 15th afternoon finally shows a bit of life with a clean 1ft wave from the east-southeast, but it’s still very ordinary. Thursday picks up a touch with a 2ft, 14-second swell, but the cross-off wind keeps it from being any good. The standout for the first week is Friday the 17th afternoon. The wind swings offshore from the west-northwest, light, and the swell jumps to 5ft from the east-southeast with a 15-second period. That’s a solid groundswell, and the energy is pumping at 953. It’s still a beginner-friendly size, and the setup will be clean. This is the one to aim for early on.

Saturday the 18th gets messy with strong southerly winds, but then we hit the big one. Sunday the 19th morning is a cracker: 10ft of south swell at 18 seconds, with a clean offshore from the northwest. That’s massive energy (5778). Fair warning, this is expert territory – over 8ft and it’s only for the experienced crew. The Gap can handle it with the offshore, but it’s serious. The afternoon stays clean but the wind picks up a bit.

Monday the 20th morning drops to a still-juicy 6ft south swell, light wind, and clean. That’s a more manageable size for a confident beginner. Tuesday the 21st morning is another beauty: glassy conditions, 6ft south swell, 16-second period, and energy at 1878. That’s a top session.

Then it gets heavy again. Wednesday the 22nd morning pushes 12ft from the east, short period at 9 seconds, and Thursday the 23rd morning hits 15ft – that’s way too big for this break, and the forecast says as much. Those days are for the brave or the kites, not paddle surfing. The swell hangs around the 13ft mark through Friday and Saturday, gradually easing. Saturday the 25th afternoon drops to 7ft from the east, still big, but with clean conditions and that energy at 1242, it’s a solid option for experts.

The last few days of the window, from Sunday the 26th, we’re back to smaller, cleaner waves around 4-5ft, with energy fading. It’s a good wind-down, but nothing to get too excited about.

So, the best on offer: the Friday 17th afternoon for a clean, fun beginner-to-intermediate session, and the Tuesday 21st morning for that glassy, long-period south swell. The big Sunday 19th is the stand-out for the experts. Keep an eye on the long-range stuff – it’s promising, but we’re a week out, so take it with a grain of salt.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
2
1
2
2
0
2
5
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
12
0.8
SSW
11
0.7
SSW
10
0.7
S
13
0.5
S
12
0.4
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
12
0.4
ESE
12
0.4
ESE
11
0.5
E
13
0.6
ESE
14
0.9
ESE
17
1.1
ESE
16
1.3
ESE
15
1.4
ESE
15
1.4
ESE
15
1.3
ESE
14
1.4
SSW
23
3
S
21
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
232
236
153
100
168
77
31
19
52
45
43
87
165
419
612
773
851
829
691
2090
7771
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
5
NE
15
NNW
15
N
20
NNW
25
NNW
25
NW
20
NW
25
NW
15
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
15
SW
15
SSW
10
NW
25
NW
10
WNW
10
W
35
S
25
S
10
NNW
Wind State
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
High Tide
2:41PM1.53m
3:16AM1.36m
3:37PM1.57m
4:16AM1.36m
4:35PM1.59m
5:15AM1.35m
5:35PM1.58m
6:14AM1.35m
6:35PM1.54m
7:12AM1.34m
7:34PM1.50m
8:09AM1.35m
8:32PM1.44m
Low Tide
8:59PM0.03m
9:20AM0.03m
9:59PM0.01m
10:21AM-0.01m
11:03PM-0.01m
11:21AM-0.06m
00:07AM-0.03m
12:20PM-0.09m
1:08AM-0.04m
1:19PM-0.10m
2:05AM-0.04m
2:17PM-0.08m
2:59AM-0.02m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:02
5:04
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
10
11
8
12
13
13
14
15
13
15
16
14
11
11
9
12
14
11
10
10
7
Feels °C
7
8
4
7
9
7
9
11
7
12
13
11
9
8
7
8
12
8
3
4
4
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Castlepoint - The Gap Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Castlepoint - The Gap provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Castlepoint - The Gap can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Castlepoint - The Gap) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Are you planning a holiday in The Wairarapa? If you are looking for accommodation near Castlepoint - The Gap, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in The Wairarapa, consider staying in Masterton which is 48 km (30 miles) away. Other places in and around The Wairarapa where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Palmerston North which is 80 km (50 miles) away and Levin, 86 km (53 miles) away.

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