Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.8° C
0.2° 

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 13 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 4,273 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 13 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Monday (Jul 13) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 13th Jul)2ft (0.6m) 13s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 17th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 12s
Most Powerful 6PM (Fri 17th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 12s

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


Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

First off, the wait is real. The start of this forecast period is a total write-off at Castlepoint - The Gap. We’re talking days of tiny, weak swell with hardly any energy (combined energy barely cracking 200). Winds are messy, cross-off or onshore, and the water is just sitting there at 55°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year. Nothing to get excited about. You’ll be staring at flat, clean lines but with zero push. That’s the story from Monday the 13th right through till Thursday the 17th.

Then things start to shake up. Friday the 17th afternoon sees a spike in size – 12 ft from the SSW (12 sec period) – but the wind is a cross-off, and the combined energy jumps to 4347. That’s a lot of juice, but it’s messy and hard to handle. This one is for the experienced crew only, and even then, it’s marginal. The swell direction isn’t ideal for The Gap, which is sheltered and wants ESE.

Now, the real standout comes on Monday the 20th. That morning is the pick of the entire run. We’ve got a solid 8 ft SSW groundswell, with a 12-second period, and cross-off winds from the SW. The combined energy is a massive 3067, so there’s proper power in the water. It’s clean, it’s big, and it’s powerful. This is definitely for experienced surfers only – at 8 ft it’s too much for beginners. The crowd factor is a worry here, as this spot is often busy, so get in early.

Another strong option lands on Tuesday the 21st morning. Another 7 ft SSW swell, 14-second period, with glassy offshore winds from the WNW. That’s about as clean as it gets. The combined energy is 2084, so still plenty of grunt. Again, this is a big-wave day for the competent crew. A bit of a caveat though – with that long period, The Gap, being a sheltered spot, could get a little straight and lumpy, but with the offshore wind, it should still be quality.

After that, the surf settles back down. From Wednesday the 22nd onwards, we’re back to smaller, weaker stuff under 5 ft, with cross-onshore winds creeping in. The energy drops off a cliff (down to 194 by Friday the 24th). There’s a brief window on Saturday the 25th morning with a clean 2 ft SE swell and offshore wind, but it’s just ordinary. Nothing to plan a trip around.

So, the one-two punch for the best waves is Monday 20th July morning and Tuesday 21st July morning. Both are big, powerful, and clean. The rest of the period is a write-off.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Sat morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Fri night, fresh winds from the SSW by Sat night).

Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
3
4
3
2
0
1
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
10
0.5
S
13
0.5
S
12
0.4
ESE
10
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
12
0.5
E
12
0.4
ESE
11
0.4
ESE
13
0.6
ESE
15
0.8
ESE
16
1
ESE
16
1.3
ESE
16
3.5
SSW
12
3
SSW
10
1.4
SE
14
1.3
ESE
14
1.2
ESE
13
0.9
SSW
18
1.6
S
16
2.5
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
100
87
77
31
19
52
69
43
56
167
273
487
749
3402
1646
846
626
479
522
1297
2536
Wind (km/h)
15
N
15
N
20
NNW
25
NW
20
NW
35
NW
15
NW
15
NW
25
NW
35
NW
35
WNW
15
WSW
20
SW
20
SW
10
WNW
10
NW
20
NW
35
SSW
25
SSW
20
SSW
15
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
High Tide
3:37PM1.57m
4:16AM1.36m
4:35PM1.59m
5:15AM1.35m
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
Low Tide
9:20AM0.03m
9:59PM0.01m
10:21AM-0.01m
11:03PM-0.01m
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
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:37
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:35
7:33
7:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:04
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:08
 mm
Temp °C
13
13
12
14
15
13
15
16
14
14
14
12
11
12
9
12
12
10
10
10
8
Feels °C
8
9
6
10
11
8
12
13
9
8
7
8
5
7
6
7
7
4
4
4
3
  • 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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