Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 25 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.5° C
0.4° 

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 25 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, SE swell with 2,076 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.7m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 14s 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 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 6PM. 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 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 27) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sun 26th Jul)7ft (2.1m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Mon 27th Jul)7.5ft (2.3m) 13s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 27th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into this one. It’s a bit of a mixed bag for Castlepoint - The Gap, but we’ve got some moments to look forward to if you’re patient.

The pattern starts quiet, but the real action builds for the end of July and into early August. The first few days are pretty average, but keep your eyes on the prize.

We kick off on Saturday the 25th. Morning session is tiny, just 2ft from the NE, with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak at 121, and while the WNW wind is offshore, it’s a light rain situation. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Honestly, not worth getting wet for.

The afternoon gets worse. A strong SSW wind at 19 mph blows cross-shore, making it a lumpy, messy 3ft. Forget it.

Now, Sunday the 26th morning is where it starts to get interesting. We’ve got a 7ft southerly swell, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 1231. The wind is a light SW cross-offshore, so the waves will be clean. This is a good one, but that 7ft is pushing into intermediate territory. Still, a solid option for the weekend.

The rest of Sunday and into Monday and Tuesday morning sees a persistent ESE swell, holding around 5ft to 7ft, with a groundswell period of 13 seconds. The energy is strong, ranging from 1056 to 1669. The wind stays favourable, mostly light cross-off or light cross, keeping the surface clean. Tuesday morning, the 28th, is a standout: 7ft from the ESE, 13-second period, light offshore from the W, and the water is 55°, which is about normal for this time of year. The waves will have good shape, but with that long period, it might be a bit straight at the beach break. It’ll work best if you’re on a point or reef.

Wednesday the 29th morning is also very good. Clean 6ft from the ESE with a 13-second period, and a light N cross-off breeze. The energy is a solid 1122. Another top session.

From Thursday the 30th into Friday, the swell drops. Winds pick up from the NW, gusting to 19 mph, and the quality falls off. The surf is poor, with energy dropping to 362. Not much to report.

Then we hit a gap. Saturday the 1st of August morning is a bit messy, but the afternoon! The afternoon of August 1st is a standout. The swell jumps to 6ft from the south, period 9 seconds, with a massive energy of 1311. The wind is a light offshore from the north, and the conditions are clean. This is a very good session, and the best of the second week.

After that, the swell drops again. Sunday the 2nd is back to tiny 2ft, and the rest of the week is a mix of cross to onshore winds and lumpy conditions. The energy remains moderate to strong, but the wind is rarely on your side.

Looking further out, the 6th and 7th of August bring a big pulse. The swell jumps to 12ft from the ESE, but the wind is straight onshore from the E and SE. The energy is enormous, 2505 to 2681, but with onshore wind, the surf will be a beast. At 12ft, that’s expert-only territory, and the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddling. The waves will be big and powerful, but rough.

The crowd at The Gap is often there, so keep that in mind for the good days.

So, the best on offer is Sunday 26th July morning and Tuesday 28th July morning for the first week, and Saturday 1st August afternoon for the second week. That afternoon session on the 1st is a real gem.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Sat morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu night).

Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
3
1
1
2
1
4
3
2
3
3
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
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
NE
7
0.9
ENE
12
1.9
SSW
8
2.1
S
8
1.8
S
8
1.2
ESE
13
1.4
ESE
13
1.6
ESE
13
2.3
SE
13
2.2
ESE
13
2.2
ESE
14
2.1
ESE
13
1.8
ESE
13
1.8
ESE
12
1.8
ESE
12
1.5
ESE
12
1.4
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
11
1
E
11
0.9
E
11
0.6
SE
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
49
203
416
565
401
454
613
878
1791
1622
1922
1430
1103
980
887
579
497
430
251
188
153
Wind (km/h)
10
WNW
30
SSW
30
SW
15
SW
20
SSW
20
W
15
SW
20
SSW
10
WSW
10
W
10
SSW
10
NW
15
N
15
N
20
NNW
30
NW
20
NW
25
NNW
20
NNW
15
NE
0
NNW
Wind State
off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
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
5:20AM1.07m
5:31PM1.18m
6:07AM1.06m
6:19PM1.17m
Low Tide
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
11:21AM0.25m
00:12AM0.26m
12:07PM0.23m
1:01AM0.23m
light rain
mod rain
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
5:17
5:19
 mm
4
9
Temp °C
10
9
9
9
9
7
9
9
8
9
10
8
11
12
9
11
13
10
14
14
12
Feels °C
8
2
1
3
3
2
3
3
4
5
7
6
6
7
4
5
8
3
10
10
10
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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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