Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with 3,267 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s period with S 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.2m and 6s is also forecast. 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, checking in on the Castlepoint – The Gap stretch.
We’re starting off with a slow few days, so don’t be in a rush to paddle out just yet. The first real window of worthwhile surf shows up on Thursday, 27 August, but it’s a tricky one. Thursday morning has a solid 6.9ft southerly swell with a very long 17-second period, pumping a massive 2564 combined energy. Sounds promising, but the wind is onshore from the ESE at 9.3 mph, and with light rain, it’s going to be messy. The setup is sheltered, so it might not be a total washout, but the conditions are marginal. If you’re a beginner, this size is pushing it, and the quality just isn’t there for a good session. Thursday afternoon is a write-off – cross-onshore wind and poor conditions.
Friday, 28 August, is a step in the right direction. The swell drops to 4.6ft in the morning, still from the south, with a 13-second period (677 energy). The wind swings north at 9.3 mph, coming cross-offshore, and the forecast says clean. It’s a decent option for a session, but not a standout. The afternoon holds similar conditions with 4.3ft swell, so you’ve got a full day of rideable, clean waves.
Saturday, 29 August, the swell backs right off to under 3.3ft. The wind is cross-off from the northwest, but the energy is weak (280 and 228), and the surf is just poor. Not worth a paddle.
Sunday, 30 August, has offshore winds from the WNW all day, but the swell is tiny – 1.3ft to 3.0ft. The energy is low (124-289), and it’s just not doing anything. The water temp is about 53.4°F, which is 1.3°F cooler than average for this time of year – nothing unusual, just a typical chilly winter morning.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday, 31 August, is the first real standout. Swell pumps up to 9.8ft from the south with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 2189. The wind is offshore from the WNW at 9.3 mph – gentle, clean conditions. This is for experienced surfers only; 9.8ft is well over the 8.2ft mark, so it’s expert territory. The morning session is excellent, but be aware – the long period (12 seconds) means the sets will be powerful and the gaps between them longer. The Gap is a sheltered spot, so it should handle the size well, but the crowd factor is listed as “often,” so expect some company. The afternoon stays big at 8.2ft but the wind ramps up to 24.9 mph, making it hard to paddle into.
Tuesday, 1 September, keeps the energy going. Another 9.8ft southerly swell, this time with a shorter 11-second period, but the energy is huge at 4070. Morning wind is light from the WSW, cross-offshore, and clean. Again, this is for experts only. The afternoon has the same size, but the wind shifts northeasterly and creates some cross-chop. Still, the size is impressive.
After Tuesday, the swell fades quickly. Wednesday, 2 September, has 6.2ft with strong offshore winds, but the wind is howling at 28.0 mph – too strong for a good paddle, even though the waves are clean. The energy drops to 1047. From Thursday, 3 September, through to Tuesday, 8 September, we’re in a flat spell. Swell heights are below 3.3ft, often below 1.6ft, with energy readings as low as 8. The wind is mostly offshore, but there’s just no wave to ride. The Gap is basically a lake for that whole week.
Things start to pick up again on Wednesday, 9 September, with a 4.3ft southerly swell, 11-second period, and 411 energy. Morning wind is light offshore from the WNW, and it’s clean. Not a massive session, but after a week of nothing, it’s a welcome sight. The afternoon gets ruined by a light onshore breeze.
Thursday, 10 September, has a 3.9ft swell from the ENE, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so the energy is weak (216). The morning is clean enough, but ordinary. The afternoon sees a 7.5ft northeasterly with a short 8-second period and cross-shore wind – not great.
Finally, Friday, 11 September, offers a bit of hope. The morning is glassy – no wind at all – with a 3.0ft northeasterly swell, 10-second period, and 150 energy. It’s small, but glassy conditions are always a treat. The afternoon, though, is a wildcard: an 11.5ft southerly swell rolls in with a 10-second period and 2007 energy, but the wind is onshore from the east. That’s a lot of size with poor wind; only for the die-hards.
So, the real highlights are the mornings of Monday, 31 August,
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Mon afternoon, calm by Tue morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2551 | 2246 | 1142 | 623 | 493 | 253 | 202 | 154 | 110 | 62 | 257 | 140 | 2171 | 1991 | 1234 | 2472 | 2697 | 1310 | 1039 | 833 | 480 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 4:09PM1.18m | 4:41AM1.07m | 4:57PM1.18m | 5:30AM1.08m | 5:49PM1.18m | 6:21AM1.12m | 6:43PM1.19m | 7:12AM1.17m | 7:39PM1.22m | 8:03AM1.24m | 8:33PM1.24m | 8:53AM1.31m | 9:25PM1.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:53AM0.22m | 10:35PM0.24m | 10:43AM0.21m | 11:30PM0.24m | 11:34AM0.20m | 00:25AM0.24m | 12:28PM0.19m | 1:16AM0.22m | 1:23PM0.17m | 2:05AM0.20m | 2:21PM0.15m | 2:54AM0.17m | 3:17PM0.12m | ||||||||
6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
— | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
2551 | 2246 | 1142 | 623 | 493 | 253 | 202 | 154 | 68 | 29 | 257 | 140 | 2171 | 1991 | 1234 | 1532 | 2697 | 1310 | 1039 | 833 | 480 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — | — | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 7 | S 11 | SSW 13 | NE 7 | S 16 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | SSW 12 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 |
13 | 12 | — | — | 99 | 71 | 50 | 50 | 110 | 62 | 14 | 131 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 57 | 10 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 9 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 13 | — | — | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | NE 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ENE 10 | — | — | — | SSW 18 | SE 12 |
— | 7 | — | — | 9 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 59 | 33 | 18 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | — | — | — | 31 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 3 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 2 | NW 2 | WNW 3 | W 4 | — | — | W 4 | SSW 11 | — | NW 4 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 3 |
— | 9 | 49 | 54 | 200 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 50 | — | — | 35 | 2472 | — | 12 | 4 | 8 | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 99 | 102 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 192 | 190 | 0 | 143 | 143 | 0 | 88 | 0 | 135 | 143 | 135 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











