
Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 5,404 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Castlepoint - The Gap in the next 16 days are 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 13s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 7ft (2.1m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Right. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the Castlepoint area. Things start a bit slow, but there’s a proper highlight shaping up later in the week, and a couple of other windows worth keeping an eye on.
First up, Sunday the 5th of July, the afternoon sees a building swell. We’ve got an average 6ft from the NE, with period a touch short at 8 seconds, meaning a bit of a bumpy, weaker energy (819). Water temp is sitting at 55°, which is pretty much standard for the time of year. Wind is light from the N, cross-off, so it’ll be clean. Ideal for beginners at The Gap, that size is manageable. Expect crowds here often.
Monday the 6th is a write-off – onshore wind from the SE and poor conditions, nothing happening.
Tuesday the 7th brings a jump in size. Morning sees 8ft from the ENE with a light cross-on breeze. That’s getting up there for a beginner, but the afternoon pushes to 10ft from the east. Still light wind, but onshore. The energy is strong (2263 and 2539). It’s a marginal call with the tide.
Now, Wednesday the 8th of July – this is the standout window. Early morning is a gem. We’ve got 8ft of east swell with a 10-second period (2071 energy). Wind is light from the WSW, so it’s cross-off and clean. The description calls it excellent for experienced surfers – and at that size, it is. The Gap here is sheltered, and that offshore flow will make for some proper walls. For the experienced crew, this is the session to aim for.
Wednesday afternoon gets messy with a southerly change and stronger wind.
Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th are blown out by strong southerly winds, and the swell jumps even bigger, up to 13ft on Thursday afternoon (3916 energy). That’s big, messy, and onshore. For paddle surfing this is a no-go. With that size and wind at a beach setup, the conditions would be more interesting for kite surfing.
Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th stay on the hefty side (8ft to 12ft) but with cross-winds and lumpy conditions. Not worth the effort.
We then get a quieter run from Monday the 13th into Wednesday the 15th. Swell backs off to 4ft to 6ft, and the wind goes light offshore or cross-off. The morning of Monday the 13th is clean (873 energy), and the morning of Tuesday the 14th is glassy with tiny swell. Nothing exciting, but surfable for the learner crew.
Then, Wednesday the 15th of July – another solid call. Morning has 4ft from the ESE with a 11-second period, and offshore wind from the NW at 12 mph. That’s a clean, lined-up little groundswell (412 energy). It won’t be big, but it’ll be fun and tidy. Better for the intermediate crowd.
The rest of that week and into the next sees the swell drop away, with mostly weak, short-period waves. From Thursday the 16th onward, we’re looking at 3ft to 5ft, often with poor wind or cross-shore chop. Nothing to get excited about. The run from the 18th to the 20th has almost no quality, with strong onshore winds and messy conditions.
So to sum up: Wednesday the 8th of July is the absolute standout for experienced surfers – solid east swell, clean offshore wind, plenty of energy. Wednesday the 15th is a second, smaller-scale option for clean, fun waves on a smaller board.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the SSE on Wed night, strong winds from the S by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sun 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
458 | 140 | 270 | 281 | 363 | 1156 | 1358 | 2343 | 1585 | 1379 | 802 | 1583 | 3088 | 5404 | 2824 | 1939 | 2034 | 2443 | 1803 | 1537 | 1098 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:16PM1.18m | 9:41AM1.15m | 10:04PM1.20m | 10:24AM1.20m | 10:51PM1.23m | 11:10AM1.26m | 11:38PM1.27m | 11:59AM1.33m | 00:27AM1.31m | 12:51PM1.40m | 1:19AM1.33m | 1:45PM1.47m | 2:16AM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:46AM0.17m | 3:45PM0.19m | 4:28AM0.16m | 4:34PM0.17m | 5:12AM0.15m | 5:24PM0.15m | 5:56AM0.13m | 6:15PM0.13m | 6:41AM0.11m | 7:07PM0.10m | 7:30AM0.09m | 8:02PM0.06m | 8:22AM0.06m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | |
4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | 5:02 | |
mm | — | — | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 11 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 11 | SSW 19 | SE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 |
232 | 140 | 270 | 281 | 363 | 885 | 992 | 2343 | 1585 | 1379 | 802 | 504 | 819 | 72 | 2824 | 1939 | 2034 | 2443 | 1803 | 1324 | 1098 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | S 21 | SSW 7 | ENE 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SW 13 | SSW 16 | S 21 | SSW 14 | S 17 | — | — | SSW 20 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
123 | 131 | 33 | 25 | 320 | 137 | 105 | 68 | 249 | 362 | 42 | 50 | 9 | 134 | 147 | — | — | 131 | 163 | 276 | 179 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 17 | S 15 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | — | — |
6 | 4 | 7 | 72 | 116 | 85 | 84 | 107 | 70 | 63 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 68 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 | E 9 | SSW 9 | SE 8 | — | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 7 | SE 10 | — |
458 | — | — | — | — | 1156 | 1358 | 111 | 167 | — | 346 | 1583 | 3088 | 5404 | 973 | 1017 | 509 | 322 | 259 | 1537 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 99 | 55 | 88 | 28 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 66 | 156 | 137 | 310 | 296 | 287 | 278 | 99 | 102 | 102 | 76 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











