
Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, S swell with 1,630 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period with SSW 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 12) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. 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 1.7m 17s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
G’day, Rusty here. We’re looking at a pretty slow run ahead for a while, so don’t get too excited just yet. There’s a few days of ordinary surf on the way before things start to pick up. The main action will be around the second weekend and into the following week, with some good energy coming through.
The first decent window won’t arrive until Sunday morning, July 12th. Castlepoint - The Gap is your only real option, and it’s a beginner-friendly, sheltered spot that’s fairly consistent. It’s an ESE swell magnet, so you’re looking at a small 3 ft from the SSW with a long 13s period. The wind is offshore WNW at 6 mph, making for clean conditions. It’s a light breeze, and the water temp is 55°, which is about average for the time of year. The combined swell energy is moderate (427). It’s not big, but it’s clean and rideable. Crowds are often here, so expect company.
Sunday afternoon drops off with messy cross-shore wind and small surf, so make the most of the morning.
The next standout comes on Friday morning, July 17th. There’s a pulse of ESE swell hitting 4 ft, with a very long 16s period. The combined energy is strong (708), and the wind is cross-off from the NNW at 9 mph, keeping it clean. This is a proper groundswell, and the longer period will favour the reef and point setup here. It’s clean, and the energy has some grunt behind it.
Friday afternoon looks even better. The swell lifts to 4 ft, still from the ESE with that same 16s period, and the wind swings offshore from the NW at 16 mph. Combined energy cranks up to 960, and it’s moderate offshore and clean. For a sheltered break, this is the pick of the first week. The water will still be around that 55° mark, nothing unusual.
Saturday morning, July 18th, is a write-off. Rain showers and a fresh 22 mph cross-shore SSW wind with lumpy cross-chop will ruin any chance of fun surf. The energy spikes, but the quality is gone.
Then things get serious on Sunday morning, July 19th. This is the big one for experienced surfers only. We’ve got a solid 8 ft S swell with a very long 15s period, and a clean offshore WNW wind at 16 mph. The combined energy is massive – 3554 – so this is a powerful, heavy groundswell. This break is sheltered from the S, but the long-period energy will wrap in nicely. It’s expert territory at this size, and the waves will be thick and lined up. The wind holds offshore through the afternoon too, with 8 ft still on the cards, but the tide conditions get a bit more marginal then.
Monday morning, July 20th, is still very good. The S swell drops to 6 ft, period 13s, with a light offshore W wind at 6 mph. Combined energy is still strong (1228), and it’s clean. This is more manageable for strong intermediates who want a piece of the action.
Tuesday, July 21st, has a smaller S swell around 3 ft with a long 16s period, but the wind is cross-off SW at 9 mph, keeping it clean. The energy is still moderate (932), but it’s not a standout after the weekend.
Into the following week, the main highlight is Friday morning, July 24th. The swell is 7 ft from the ENE with an 11s period, and a light offshore W wind at 6 mph. Combined energy is strong (917), and it’s clean. That’s a solid size for the break, and with glassy conditions on the Friday afternoon too, it’s a great end to the run. By Saturday, July 25th, the wind goes nuts with a strong breeze, so that’s the end of the good stuff.
Sunday, July 26th, finishes with a clean 5 ft to 6 ft ENE swell and gentle offshore WNW wind, but the period is shorter at 8-9s. It’s surfable, but nothing like the previous weekend.
Overall, the best on offer is the Sunday 19th and Monday 20th window for the big, clean groundswell, and Friday 24th for the clean, punchy mid-period swell. The early part of the forecast is lean, so save your energy for those days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue morning, min 6°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sat 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 13 | S 12 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
367 | 380 | 232 | 236 | 153 | 94 | 57 | 77 | 30 | 32 | 52 | 69 | 66 | 123 | 167 | 198 | 339 | 612 | 749 | 818 | 691 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | 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 | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross |
High Tide | 2:16AM1.35m | 2:41PM1.53m | 3:16AM1.36m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:02PM0.06m | 8:22AM0.06m | 8:59PM0.03m | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | |
5:02 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | 5:07 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
Temp °C | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 9 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 10 | ESE 9 | S 12 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | E 12 | E 11 | E 13 | ESE 15 | SSE 6 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 |
367 | 266 | 177 | 236 | 153 | 94 | 47 | 77 | 29 | 18 | 19 | 69 | 66 | 123 | 167 | 52 | 339 | 612 | 749 | 818 | 691 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | S 10 | NE 5 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 18 | ENE 6 | ESE 14 | SSE 6 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 24 |
318 | 380 | 232 | 143 | 123 | 92 | 46 | 11 | 30 | 32 | 52 | 10 | 5 | 32 | 4 | 198 | 33 | 40 | 207 | 66 | 184 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 6 | S 6 | — | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | ESE 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | ESE 10 | S 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 15 | S 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | NE 10 | SSW 14 | NE 5 |
48 | 34 | 18 | — | 43 | 44 | 57 | 25 | 27 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 37 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 8 | 56 | 4 | 18 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | — | — | — | NNE 2 | NNE 2 | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | NNW 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | — | S 5 | — | — | N 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 | S 7 |
33 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 42 | — | — | 1 | 3 | 13 | 442 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 273 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











