Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 3,066 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 16s. 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 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) 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 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Castlepoint – The Gap. This spot is a sheltered little number, so it needs a decent push from the south-east to really light up. The water temp is sitting at 53.2°, which is just a tick below where it should be for this time of year, so it’s a bit nippy but nothing too wild.
The action starts on Thursday morning, 20 August. We’ve got some clouds overhead, a 6.2ft swell rolling in from the south, with a cross-offshore breeze from the west-southwest at 9 mph. The wave energy is pumping at 1171 (moderate), but the period is only 8 seconds—short and a bit junky, so it’ll be a bit of a close-out mess at the beach. Not terrible, but you’re scratching for a clean one. The afternoon goes sideways: the swell bumps up to 7.2ft from the south-southwest, but the wind swings cross-shore and the period jumps to 12 seconds. The energy is huge at 1860 (strong), but the conditions are marginal—tide and wind chop will make it a battle.
Friday the 21st stays iffy. Morning has a 5.6ft south swell with a very long period of 16 seconds, but the wind is light cross-shore, and the energy is still solid at 1434 (strong). That long period means the waves will have plenty of punch, but at a beach break like this, they’ll close out fast. The afternoon cleans up a bit with a 5.2ft south swell, 13-second period, and a cross-off breeze from the northwest, but it’s still only a 1 out of 10 for quality. You’re better off waiting.
Saturday the 22nd is a write-off. The swell drops to 3.6ft in the morning, and the wind is howling offshore at 22 mph from the west-northwest. It’s glassy-looking but the energy is weak at 313, and the waves are too small and blown out. Afternoon is even smaller at 3.3ft, with 25 mph winds. Hard to paddle into, honestly. This pattern sticks through Sunday the 23rd—tiny waves and strong offshore winds that make it a chore. The energy drops to 84 by Sunday morning. Not worth a session.
Monday the 24th brings a small glimmer: a 3.0ft south-southwest swell in the morning with a gentle offshore breeze from the west. The period is 9 seconds, energy a weak 224, but it’s clean. Surfable but ordinary. The afternoon, however, is a beast—a 9.8ft swell from the south with a 14-second period and 3011 energy (very strong). But the wind is cross-shore from the north-northeast, and the tide looks questionable. That’s a big, powerful wave that only experts should even think about, and even then it’ll be a messy, chunky beast.
Tuesday the 25th is the best of the week. Morning has a 5.2ft south swell, 12-second period, with a clean offshore breeze from the west-northwest at 9 mph. Energy is 788 (moderate), and the conditions are good. The afternoon holds up with a 4.3ft south swell, 11-second period, and a moderate offshore breeze from the northwest. It’s clean, consistent, and the crowd is “often” here, so expect company. This is the standout—a solid, fun day with proper waves and clean faces.
After that, the surf gets small and messy again. Wednesday the 26th has a 2.3ft swell with a 14-second period and a fresh offshore breeze, but the energy is only 238. The period is long, so the waves will be fat and slow. The rest of the week into early September is a mix of small south swells with long periods and cross-offshore winds, but the energy is low (200-400 range). The water is still cold, and the conditions are mostly “surfable but ordinary.”
The next real pulse comes on Tuesday, 1 September, with a 7.9ft south swell, 16-second period, and 2737 energy (strong). The wind is cross-offshore from the north-northwest at 13 mph. That’s a big, powerful groundswell that will be too much for most, but if you’re an expert and you can handle the size, it might be a wild session. The period is very long, so it’ll be a bit of a wait between sets, but the energy is huge. The afternoon drops to 7.2ft with a 14-second period, still decent. That’s the second standout, but it’s a long way out and the forecast might change.
Wednesday the 2nd September morning is a bit of a letdown, but the afternoon shapes up nicely: a 3.9ft south swell, 11-second period, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the north-northwest at 6 mph. The energy is 451 (moderate), and the conditions are
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Thu morning). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, strong winds from the WNW by Sat morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Sun morning, light winds from the E by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 8 | SSW 12 | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | ESE 13 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
453 | 1347 | 839 | 1384 | 905 | 480 | 300 | 233 | 141 | 50 | 34 | 51 | 111 | 2977 | 1928 | 736 | 388 | 167 | 201 | 367 | 222 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 11:05AM1.33m | 11:28PM1.26m | 11:52AM1.31m | 00:11AM1.22m | 12:37PM1.28m | 00:54AM1.18m | 1:20PM1.26m | 1:39AM1.14m | 2:01PM1.24m | 2:24AM1.10m | 2:42PM1.22m | 3:09AM1.08m | 3:24PM1.20m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:31PM0.16m | 5:43AM0.20m | 6:17PM0.18m | 6:24AM0.22m | 6:59PM0.20m | 7:03AM0.24m | 7:40PM0.21m | 7:42AM0.24m | 8:20PM0.21m | 8:22AM0.24m | 9:01PM0.22m | 9:06AM0.23m | 9:45PM0.23m | ||||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | |
— | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 13 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 |
354 | 304 | 839 | 1384 | 905 | 480 | 300 | 233 | 141 | 50 | 16 | 51 | 111 | 2977 | 1928 | 736 | 388 | 154 | 201 | 367 | 222 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 16 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSW 16 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | SSW 15 | SSE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 |
289 | 147 | 262 | 26 | 64 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 32 | 80 | 34 | 37 | 35 | 18 | 167 | 19 | 17 | 17 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 11 | — | SE 12 | SE 11 | ESE 12 | NE 14 | NE 5 | SSE 9 | NE 7 | ESE 13 | — | — | ESE 13 | — | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 9 | S 9 |
75 | 62 | 62 | 24 | — | 6 | 5 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 33 | — | — | 17 | — | 20 | 18 | 8 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSW 12 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | W 4 | W 4 | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 3 | NW 2 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 3 |
453 | 1347 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 28 | 35 | 6 | — | 24 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 16 | 25 | 74 | 135 | 74 | 135 | 143 | 200 | 0 | 28 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 135 | 0 | 28 |
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.











