
Surf Forecasts:
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 Type | Time (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 ForecastModerate 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 SummaryMostly 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | NE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 12 | E 12 | SSW 8 | S 8 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | 15 | 13 | 78 | 46 | 106 | 727 | 284 | 250 | 232 | 651 | 744 | 1240 | 1264 | 1188 | 1011 | 852 | 903 | 681 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | |||||||
— | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | — | 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 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | E 12 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
17 | 15 | 6 | 78 | 42 | 103 | 398 | 284 | 160 | 106 | 651 | 744 | 1240 | 1264 | 1188 | 1011 | 852 | 903 | 681 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | ENE 5 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ENE 12 | ENE 8 | E 11 | SE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 |
3 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 46 | 39 | 121 | 214 | 250 | 232 | 117 | 87 | 45 | 58 | 46 | 20 | 73 | 186 | 419 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | ESE 11 | SW 8 | S 8 | SE 13 | SE 17 | SE 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | — | NE 5 |
8 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 106 | 198 | 104 | 48 | 146 | 23 | 25 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | N 3 | NE 5 | NNW 2 | NW 3 | SSW 4 | SSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | N 4 | N 4 | NNW 4 |
3 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 37 | 727 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 8 | 13 | 26 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 245 | 245 | 169 | 28 | 0 | 284 | 1 | 0 | 169 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
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.










