
Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 16s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 20s period, S swell with 3,230 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 11s 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 (Jul 15) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 19s. 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 2.0m 20s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 20s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, let’s be honest – the next 16 days at Castlepoint – The Gap are a bit of a mixed bag, with a slow start and a couple of proper windows that’ll get the blood pumping. The water temp is sitting at about 55°F, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The first real surf we see is on Wednesday the 16th, but it’s nothing to write home about. Thursday morning on the 16th has a 2ft swell from the ESE with a 15-second period, and the wind is fresh offshore from the WNW at 19 mph, keeping things clean. The wave energy is pretty moderate (210), but the swell is just too small to get excited about. Thursday afternoon picks up a little – 3ft ESE swell with a 16-second period, and the wind drops to a gentle offshore breeze (9 mph). The combined energy is still moderate (323), and the report says “ordinary conditions.” It’s surfable, but only just.
Now, Friday the 17th is where things start to get interesting. The morning is a standout: a clean 4ft swell from the ESE, 16-second period, with a light offshore breeze from the west at only 3 mph. The wave energy jumps to a strong 1467, and it’s glassy, clean conditions. The report says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a real window for a decent session. The afternoon sees the swell bump up to 6ft from the SSW, 15-second period, but the wind turns cross-off from the north at 6 mph. The energy is very strong (2506), and it’s clean, but that 6ft is getting into the territory where only experienced surfers will be comfortable.
Saturday the 18th is a bit of a letdown after Friday. The morning has a fresh 22 mph offshore wind from the NW, which is too strong, and the 4ft ESE swell (14 seconds) is blown out of shape despite the energy being moderate (940). The afternoon is a better story: the wind drops to a gentle 9 mph from the WSW, the swell drops to 3ft from the SSW, but the period is a very long 23 seconds, and the energy is strong (1377). The report says “very good surf conditions,” but that long period will make it break a bit straight at The Gap, which is a sheltered spot. Still, for the patient surfer, it could be worth a look.
Sunday the 19th is a write-off. A 7ft S swell with an 18-second period hits the morning, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore from the SSW at 12 mph, creating a cross-chop. The wave energy is very strong (3059), but the conditions are marginal. The afternoon is worse – 6ft S swell, 16 seconds, still cross-shore and messy. Skip it.
Monday the 20th is the real standout of the whole outlook. The morning is a beauty: a 7ft S swell with a 15-second period, and a light offshore wind from the west at only 6 mph. The wave energy is very strong (2216), and the report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is the one to aim for – clean, powerful, and solid. That 7ft is big, so only for the crew who know what they’re doing. The afternoon turns onshore from the ESE at 3 mph, which messes it up, so get in early.
Tuesday the 21st through to the end of the month is a slow fade. The swell drops to 5ft or less, the wind is mostly offshore but the wave energy is low to moderate (783 down to 62). There are no more standouts. A few mornings on the 21st and 22nd have clean, small waves (5ft and 3ft) with light offshore winds, but it’s just ordinary, small-scale surf. The last week is basically a gap – from the 24th of July through to the 30th, the swell is tiny (1ft to 4ft), and the energy is weak. There’s nothing to recommend.
So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Friday morning the 17th for a clean, fun session with the ESE swell, and Monday morning the 20th for the big, powerful S swell for experienced surfers only. The rest is either too small, too windy, or just ordinary. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, those two days are the ones to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Thu morning, calm by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sat morning, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 12 | ESE 11 | E 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | SSW 15 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | SSW 23 | S 20 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
69 | 43 | 86 | 167 | 298 | 635 | 892 | 1597 | 720 | 682 | 718 | 3230 | 2702 | 1672 | 1675 | 2089 | 2012 | 1207 | 713 | 480 | 327 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | off | off | on | off | off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 5:35PM1.58m | 6:14AM1.35m | 6:35PM1.54m | 7:12AM1.34m | 7:34PM1.50m | 8:09AM1.35m | 8:32PM1.44m | 9:03AM1.36m | 9:29PM1.40m | 9:55AM1.36m | 10:23PM1.36m | 10:46AM1.36m | 11:13PM1.33m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:21AM-0.06m | 00:07AM-0.03m | 12:20PM-0.09m | 1:08AM-0.04m | 1:19PM-0.10m | 2:05AM-0.04m | 2:17PM-0.08m | 2:59AM-0.02m | 3:16PM-0.04m | 3:52AM0.01m | 4:14PM0.01m | 4:42AM0.05m | 5:08PM0.07m | ||||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
— | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | ESE 11 | E 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | S 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | S 20 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 |
69 | 43 | 86 | 167 | 298 | 635 | 457 | 1597 | 598 | 682 | 515 | 3230 | 2702 | 1672 | 1675 | 2089 | 2012 | 1207 | 713 | 480 | 327 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | S 10 | SSW 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
5 | 36 | 33 | 24 | 25 | 47 | 892 | 909 | 720 | 250 | 144 | 479 | 357 | 290 | 190 | 127 | 123 | 115 | 70 | 69 | 46 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | NE 5 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | S 4 | S 15 | — | — | S 20 | SSW 23 | — | — | — | S 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | 1 | 21 | 19 | — | 3 | 118 | — | — | 8 | 718 | — | — | — | 124 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | WNW 3 | W 4 | S 4 | — | — | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 |
3 | — | 2 | 5 | 6 | 8 | — | — | 3 | 19 | — | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 135 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 25 | 0 | 102 | 99 | 102 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










