Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 23 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.4° C
0.5° 

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 23 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 26 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, ESE swell with 1,283 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 12s period with ENE 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 Saturday (Jul 25) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sat 25th Jul)1.5ft (0.4m) 12s
Best Surf 3AM (Sun 26th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 8s
Most Powerful 3AM (Tue 28th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid 16-day window for Castlepoint’s The Gap, and there’s plenty to get excited about if you time it right. The pattern starts off pretty meek, but we build into some serious size and clean conditions later on.

The first few days are a bit of a write-off, to be honest. Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th offer tiny, weak swell with poor conditions, so you’re not missing much. There’s a real gap of a couple of days with no reason to paddle out. It’s not until Sunday morning the 26th that we see a change. The combined energy jumps to 602 (moderate) with a 5ft S swell, but it’s a short period of 8 seconds. The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but that short period means a bit of a choppy, less powerful wave.

Monday morning the 27th looks better. The swell is 5ft from the ESE with a 13-second period, giving it some real push. The combined energy is 791 (moderate) and you’ve got light WNW offshore winds. That’s a clean, fun size for a beginner-friendly spot like The Gap.

Now, the standout period starts Tuesday the 28th of July. The morning brings in a clean 6ft ESE swell, with a 13-second period and light NW offshore winds. The combined energy is a solid 1322 (strong). This is the first real highlight of the outlook. The waves will have proper shape and power, and the conditions are going to be glassy. For a sheltered spot like The Gap, this is a beauty.

Wednesday the 29th is still good, with 6ft ESE swell and moderate cross-off NW winds, but the energy drops a bit (929). It’s still surfable, just not as clean as Tuesday.

The surf then backs off, but we get another big moment on Saturday the 1st of August. The morning is a true standout: 10ft of S swell, with a 10-second period and a slight NW offshore airflow. The combined energy is massive at 1880 (very strong). This is big, powerful surf. For beginners, this is probably too much. This is for the experienced crew only. The afternoon holds at 8ft with the same offshore wind, so it’s still pumping.

Sunday the 2nd of August settles to a more manageable 4ft, but the wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean. Then we get a bit of a wildcard on Monday the 3rd of August. The morning is a clean 6ft S swell with strong WNW offshore winds, but the afternoon gets a 7ft S swell with a long 14-second period, and while the wind is strong offshore, the report says it’s hard to paddle into. That’s a lot of juice, and the period is long, which at The Gap (a reef/point setup) should be fine, but it’s a serious paddle.

The final real golden window is Thursday the 6th of August. The morning shows a 7ft S swell, with a 13-second period and light W offshore winds. The combined energy is 1362 (strong). This is another top-tier morning. Clean, powerful, and well-shaped.

So, if you’re planning a session, your two absolute best bets are Tuesday morning the 28th of July for a clean, solid, and approachable size, and Saturday morning the 1st of August if you’re an expert looking for a big, powerful, offshore day. The swell direction from the SSE is a good match for the break’s preferred ESE optimum, so it’ll line up well.

The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing too crazy.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the W by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 3°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
2
0
2
2
2
3
3
2
2
1
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
10
0.3
S
9
0.5
NE
5
0.9
ENE
7
0.4
ENE
12
0.6
E
12
2.4
SSW
8
1.5
S
8
0.8
ESE
14
0.8
ESE
14
1.4
ESE
13
1.5
ESE
13
1.8
ESE
14
1.9
ESE
13
1.9
ESE
13
1.7
ESE
13
1.7
ESE
12
1.7
ESE
13
1.5
ESE
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
17
15
13
78
46
106
727
284
250
232
651
744
1240
1264
1188
1011
852
903
681
Wind (km/h)
25
NNW
20
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
15
NW
40
SW
20
SW
10
W
15
S
10
W
10
WNW
10
SSE
10
NW
10
NW
10
NNE
15
NNW
25
NNW
25
NW
30
NW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
off
cross-on
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
00:46AM1.26m
1:14PM1.32m
1:32AM1.22m
1:59PM1.30m
2:19AM1.18m
2:41PM1.29m
3:05AM1.14m
3:22PM1.26m
3:50AM1.11m
4:03PM1.23m
4:35AM1.08m
4:46PM1.21m
Low Tide
6:58AM0.21m
7:34PM0.22m
7:39AM0.25m
8:18PM0.25m
8:21AM0.28m
9:02PM0.27m
9:04AM0.29m
9:46PM0.28m
9:49AM0.29m
10:32PM0.29m
10:35AM0.27m
11:21PM0.28m
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:30
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
 mm
1
1
4
12
1
Temp °C
12
14
14
12
10
8
8
9
9
6
9
9
8
10
12
10
12
14
12
Feels °C
7
9
9
7
6
0
1
4
4
2
6
6
6
8
9
6
7
9
6
  • Map Icons:
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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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