Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 05 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.1°C
0.7° 

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 5 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, SSW swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 4,881 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with E 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Wed 9th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 8s
Best Surf 6AM (Sun 13th Sep)15ft (4.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 12th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got a good look at what’s coming up for Castlepoint - The Gap. Let’s get into it.

The start of the period is a slow grind, and honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer for the first few days. There’s some small swell, but it’s all wrapped up in onshore winds and messy conditions, so you’re not missing much. It’s not until the 11th of September that we see the first real chance at a wave.

On Friday morning, the 11th, we get a bit of a pulse. A 5ft S swell with a short period of 7 seconds pushes in, but the wind is light offshore and clean. The combined energy is moderate (425). It’s not a world-beater, but it’s the first sign of life. The setup is a bit raw for a beginner, though, with that short period making it a little lumpy.

Now, the standout for the whole run is undeniably the morning of Sunday, the 13th of September. The forecast is calling for a massive 16ft S swell, with a period of 12 seconds, coming in with a strong offshore WNW wind. The combined energy reading is a massive 10269, which is a serious amount of power. But, and this is a big but, the guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for The Gap. This is expert-only territory, and only for the most experienced. The wind will be strong offshore, making it clean, but paddling into that beast will be a mission. A real handful.

If you’re not in that elite crew, the following Monday morning, the 14th of September, is your better bet. An 12ft S swell with a 13-second period, combined energy of 3884, and a light offshore WNW wind. The call is for excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers. It’s still big, but more manageable than the day before.

The rest of the second week stays fun, with a steady run of S swells, mostly in the 5ft to 8ft range, with clean offshore winds. The Tuesday morning of the 15th is a solid pick with a 6ft S swell at 12 seconds and a slight offshore breeze, giving you 1008 combined energy and very good conditions. The afternoon of the 18th of September also looks tidy with a 8ft S swell and fresh offshore wind.

Keep an eye on the water temp. For the first break I mentioned, the 11th, there’s no anomaly noted, so it feels about average for this time of year. Nothing to worry about there.

As for crowds, The Gap is listed as “often” crowded, so when the swell is good, expect company. The waves are best on the offshore WNW wind, which aligns with the guidance’s optimum direction. The 18-second period on the first small swell is a sign of some long-period groundswell, which can be a bit straight at a beach break, but The Gap is a more sheltered spot, so it should hold up.

So, to sum it up: the start is a write-off, but from the 11th onwards, it gets interesting. The 13th is a monster for experts only, and the 14th and 15th mornings are the real sweet spots for the rest of us.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 37mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sat night, light winds from the E by Mon night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Thu night, strong winds from the WNW by Fri afternoon).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
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
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
0
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
11
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
17
1.9
S
7
2.2
SSE
8
1.7
SE
7
1.3
ESE
7
1.1
ESE
7
1.2
E
8
1.2
E
8
1.1
E
8
0.9
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.4
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
1.6
S
7
0.6
SSW
19
0.5
SSW
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
133
123
149
56
377
540
293
142
105
205
210
173
115
53
68
105
240
277
176
Wind (km/h)
40
WNW
30
WNW
15
NNW
20
NNW
30
S
30
SSE
10
ESE
10
E
15
ENE
15
NE
15
NNE
15
N
30
NW
30
NW
25
NW
10
W
10
W
25
WNW
40
WSW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
11:52PM1.32m
12:17PM1.46m
00:45AM1.30m
1:11PM1.46m
1:41AM1.28m
2:07PM1.45m
2:39AM1.26m
3:03PM1.43m
3:37AM1.26m
4:01PM1.41m
4:34AM1.26m
4:58PM1.38m
Low Tide
6:07AM-0.01m
6:40PM-0.05m
6:56AM-0.05m
7:30PM-0.06m
7:48AM-0.07m
8:22PM-0.05m
8:45AM-0.07m
9:18PM-0.01m
9:44AM-0.06m
10:17PM0.03m
10:44AM-0.04m
11:19PM0.07m
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
heavy rain
heavy rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
 mm
24
11
2
1
4
Temp °C
14
15
17
14
9
9
9
11
11
10
13
15
12
12
11
10
12
13
12
Feels °C
7
8
13
10
2
3
5
7
7
6
8
11
6
7
5
6
7
7
2
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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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