Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, S swell with 2,171 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Castlepoint - The Gap in the next 16 days are 1.9m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, gather round. We’re looking at The Gap at Castlepoint, and it’s one of those forecasts that starts slow but has some proper gems hidden in there.
The beginning is a write-off. Sunday, the 23rd – howling, strong winds and tiny, bumpy surf. Not worth your time. But hang tight because Monday the 24th is the real deal. We’re talking a solid 7 to 7 foot swell from the SSW, with a 13 to 14 second period – that’s clean, powerful groundswell. The wind is blowing offshore from the NW, so the faces will be glassy. The energy readings (1458 climbing to 1650) tell you this is the real deal. That’s the day to clear your schedule. Water temps are around 53°F, a touch cooler than average for the season, so don’t skimp on the rubber.
Thursday the 27th is another special one. The swell holds around 5 to 6 feet from the S, with a 17-second pulse. That’s deep ocean energy. By the afternoon, a light wind from the NW keeps it clean and cross-off, making for excellent conditions. That’s for experienced crew only at that size, especially with that long period wrapping into The Gap.
Midweek from the 26th onward is a mixed bag – clean mornings but dropping swell, or building wind. The second week into September sees the surf fade, with some size returning around Monday the 31st – a clean 7 foot swell from the S, but the period drops to 10 seconds and the afternoon gets chopped by a cross-onshore wind.
Best advice? Point the van toward Monday the 24th. Thursday the 27th if you’re after a bigger, longer period challenge. For the rest, watch the forecasts. The winds tend to stay offshore here, so the potential is always there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Sun morning, light winds from the WNW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Thu afternoon, near gales from the WNW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | ESE 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
50 | 34 | 101 | 1421 | 1616 | 681 | 411 | 581 | 228 | 547 | 371 | 199 | 1502 | 2171 | 1528 | 725 | 473 | 339 | 237 | 115 | 89 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:20PM1.26m | 1:39AM1.14m | 2:01PM1.24m | 2:24AM1.10m | 2:42PM1.22m | 3:09AM1.08m | 3:24PM1.20m | 3:54AM1.07m | 4:09PM1.18m | 4:41AM1.07m | 4:57PM1.18m | 5:30AM1.08m | 5:49PM1.18m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:40PM0.21m | 7:42AM0.24m | 8:20PM0.21m | 8:22AM0.24m | 9:01PM0.22m | 9:06AM0.23m | 9:45PM0.23m | 9:53AM0.22m | 10:35PM0.24m | 10:43AM0.21m | 11:30PM0.24m | 11:34AM0.20m | 00:25AM0.24m | ||||||||
6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | |
mm | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | NE 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 12 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSW 10 |
50 | 15 | 101 | 1421 | 1616 | 681 | 411 | 581 | 228 | 547 | 371 | 199 | 1502 | 2171 | 1528 | 725 | 473 | 339 | 237 | 115 | 77 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 16 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | SSW 11 | SSE 10 |
33 | 34 | 32 | 32 | 34 | 37 | 17 | 17 | 87 | 17 | 17 | 174 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 12 | 16 | 68 | 54 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | SSE 9 | NE 7 | NNE 7 | — | NE 11 | — | — | SSW 18 | — | NE 10 | ESE 12 | — | — | — | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | NE 6 | SE 14 |
7 | 9 | 2 | 5 | — | 5 | — | — | 114 | — | 4 | 15 | — | — | — | 9 | 8 | 29 | 28 | 6 | 89 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | W 4 | W 4 | — | NW 3 | NW 2 | WNW 2 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 | NW 4 | NW 3 | WNW 4 | — | — | NNE 5 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | — | SSE 4 | — |
8 | 35 | 28 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 11 | — | — | 10 | 10 | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 192 | 143 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 135 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 16 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 37 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











