
Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 9,211 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 12s period with ESE 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 16s. 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 5.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 11s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next couple of weeks.
Right out of the gate, we’ve got a bit of a mixed bag. The water temperature is sitting at 54°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year, no real surprises there.
The first real chance for a paddle kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, July 29th. We’re looking at a 6 ft swell pushing in from the ESE, with a solid 12-second period. The wind is a cross-off from the NNW at 12 mph, which should keep things reasonably clean. The combined energy is moderate (887), so there’s a bit of push there, but it’s a sheltered spot, so it’ll be manageable. Not a standout, but a decent start.
Now, Thursday, July 30th and Friday, July 31st are a bit rough. The swell drops right off, and the wind kicks up strong, especially on Friday when you’ve got a 25 mph offshore wind. That’s clean, but it’s going to be a nightmare to paddle into with the swell down to 2 ft. I’d give those days a miss.
Saturday, August 1st brings a big change. A solid 10 ft to 12 ft S swell rolls in, but it’s messy. The wind is cross-shore and fresh, so the wave face is going to be lumpy with cross-chop. The combined energy jumps into the strong range (2998 on Saturday afternoon), but the quality is poor. For the experienced crew, it might be worth a look, but it’s not a day for beginners.
Sunday, August 2nd is a proper standout. This is the best on offer in the whole outlook. You’ve got an 8 ft S swell in the morning, dropping to a 7 ft SSE in the afternoon. The period is a solid 11 seconds. But the magic is the wind: light westerlies, offshore, glassy clean. The combined energy is strong (1792 in the morning, 1350 in the afternoon). This is a top-shelf day at The Gap. The swell direction is S, which isn’t the optimum ESE, but the clean conditions and solid size make up for it. For a sheltered spot, 8 ft is a solid, fun size, but it might be a little much for the absolute beginners. Get out there.
Monday, August 3rd is a comedown. The morning is nice with 4 ft and a gentle offshore, but the afternoon blows up with a 13 ft S swell and a 19 mph cross-shore wind. That’s strong (7411) energy but messy. The morning is the call.
Tuesday, August 4th is a no-go for paddle surfing. The swell hits 18 ft with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is massive (11169 to 18823). This is way too big for The Gap, even for experts. The wind is light at times, but the size is just dangerous. Honestly, with that much wind and swell, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Wednesday, August 5th through to Wednesday, August 12th is a long, dry spell. The swell is constantly on the small side, the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the quality is poor. You’ll see some 8 ft to 10 ft days, but the wind is from the E or SE, bringing in chop and making it ugly. The combined energy is moderate, but the conditions are just not there. There’s a ten-day stretch where I wouldn’t bother.
Finally, Wednesday, August 13th is a promising light at the end of the tunnel. The morning session is expected to be excellent for experienced surfers. A 13 ft NE swell with a short 9-second period, but the wind is glassy – dead calm. That’s a beautiful thing. The combined energy is very strong (4082). This is a big swell, only for the experts, and the short period might make it a bit fat, but glassy conditions at The Gap with that size is a rare treat. The afternoon drops to 8 ft with a bit of cross-onshore wind, but the morning is the window.
So, to sum it up: Sunday, August 2nd is the absolute standout for the best all-round conditions. Wednesday, August 13th morning is the one for the big-wave hunters. The rest of the first week is a waiting game, and the second week looks largely quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Fri night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, fresh winds from the SW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | SE 15 | SSW 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSW 12 | SSE 11 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
624 | 505 | 383 | 259 | 158 | 114 | 109 | 2367 | 4470 | 2624 | 1663 | 934 | 759 | 367 | 190 | 1611 | 6650 | 9211 | 3050 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | cross | off | off | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 5:20AM1.07m | 5:31PM1.18m | 6:07AM1.06m | 6:19PM1.17m | 6:55AM1.07m | 7:09PM1.17m | 7:42AM1.10m | 8:01PM1.17m | 8:30AM1.15m | 8:54PM1.20m | 9:16AM1.21m | 9:44PM1.23m | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:21PM0.28m | 11:21AM0.25m | 00:12AM0.26m | 12:07PM0.23m | 1:01AM0.23m | 12:54PM0.21m | 1:48AM0.21m | 1:44PM0.19m | 2:34AM0.20m | 2:36PM0.18m | 3:20AM0.18m | 3:30PM0.16m | |||||||
— | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 8 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
Feels °C | 3 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | -2 | -2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 2 | -2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | E 11 | E 11 | SE 16 | SE 15 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 15 | — | S 13 | S 12 |
624 | 505 | 383 | 259 | 158 | 114 | 57 | 198 | 174 | 2624 | 1663 | 934 | 759 | 307 | 183 | 1611 | — | 6081 | 3050 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | NE 7 | NE 8 | SE 15 | E 10 | E 12 | SE 14 | NE 16 | SSE 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSE 11 | — | — | NE 12 |
229 | 121 | 77 | 34 | 60 | 60 | 109 | 33 | 25 | 158 | 10 | 269 | 102 | 367 | 190 | 76 | — | — | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 5 | S 16 | SSW 14 | SE 15 | NE 7 | NE 18 | NE 17 | E 10 | SE 14 | NE 15 | NE 15 | SSW 20 | SSW 9 | NE 13 | — | — | — |
— | — | 2 | 20 | 40 | 59 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 64 | 9 | 8 | 75 | 68 | 7 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 4 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 5 | NW 3 | WNW 4 | WSW 4 | SSW 10 | S 12 | — | — | — | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 3 | S 6 | S 14 | SSW 13 | — |
6 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 15 | 42 | 2367 | 4470 | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | 2 | 109 | 6650 | 9211 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 16 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 55 | 74 | 183 | 160 | 137 | 156 | 102 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 235 | 1 | 76 | 99 |
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.










