Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 07 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.4°C
0.3° 

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 7 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 4,512 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period with E 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Wed 9th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 12th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 3PM (Sat 12th Sep)13ft (4.0m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let's have a proper look at what's on the cards for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of moments that’ll get the blood pumping.

Right now, the early part of the week is just grim. We’ve got some chest-high swell around 5ft on Tuesday morning, coming out of the ESE with a short, weak 8-second period and cross-on junk from the SSE. The wave energy is a modest 491, and honestly, it’s just poor conditions. That carries through Tuesday afternoon as well – not worth paddling out for.

Wednesday morning looks a little better, with the swell dropping to 5ft from the ESE, but the wind goes glassy, which is a treat. The energy is still low at 323, and it’s only ordinary surf, but it’s clean enough for a beginner to get some practice on a longboard. Winds turn nasty in the arvo, though, so make the most of the morning.

Thursday has a small, clean bump – around 3ft in the morning, with a nice WNW offshore. It’s tiny, but the conditions are clean. After that, we hit a real flat spell from Friday morning right through until Sunday morning.

Alright, now for the standout. Sunday, 13th September, is the real deal. That morning we’ve got a solid 8ft SSW groundswell pumping in with a 16-second period and gentle WNW offshore winds. The wave energy is a meaty 2803, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper groundswell event, and at The Gap, that long period (over 15 seconds) is going to set up some beautiful, powerful lines. It might be a touch big for the beginners, but for anyone else, this is the session to circle. The Saturday afternoon before it also has a huge 13ft swell on the charts, but it’s a messy cross-on wind situation and the energy is through the roof at 6738 – that’s more of a beast for the experts, and with the wind, it’s likely a bit of a washing machine.

After that Sunday morning, the surf settles down. Monday the 14th still has a fun, clean 5ft SSW swell with a cross-off breeze – worth a paddle if you missed the weekend. Dusty conditions on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week see strong offshore winds blowing the tops off, making it hard to get in.

Later on, around Friday 18th September, we see another pulse of SSW swell, around 8ft, with more clean offshore wind. The energy is a solid 830, but the wind is a moderate offshore, so it’s clean and punchy. That could be a good option for the experienced crew again.

For the very end of the window, around the 22nd and 23rd, we’re back to tiny, clean slop under 3ft. Not much to write home about.

The Pick: No doubt about it, Sunday morning, 13th September is the standout. A solid 8ft SSW groundswell with a 16-second period and glassy to gentle offshore wind. It’s a classic Castlepoint groundswell day. For a secondary option, keep an eye on Friday 18th September for another clean, punchy day in the 7ft range.

Right now the water temp is about average for this time of year, so you won't need a thick steamer yet.

Crowds at The Gap are often present, especially on a day like that Sunday, so get in early.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the NW by Wed night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the S on Thu night, calm by Sun morning).

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
1
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
4
4
4
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SE
7
1.6
ESE
8
1.8
E
9
1.7
E
9
1.4
ESE
8
1.4
ESE
8
1.2
E
8
0.8
ESE
8
0.6
ESE
8
0.3
SSW
20
0.6
SSW
19
0.6
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
17
1.5
S
6
4
SSW
12
3
S
15
2.4
SSW
16
1.9
SSW
15
1.6
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
233
385
498
435
284
277
191
81
47
75
274
254
170
165
4512
3919
2781
1753
961
Wind (km/h)
15
SE
10
SSE
10
SSE
5
S
5
NNW
20
NE
25
NNW
20
WNW
15
NW
35
S
20
SSW
5
ENE
15
WNW
10
SW
10
ENE
20
NW
15
WNW
15
S
5
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross
glassy
High Tide
1:41AM1.28m
2:07PM1.45m
2:39AM1.26m
3:03PM1.43m
3:37AM1.26m
4:01PM1.41m
4:34AM1.26m
4:58PM1.38m
5:30AM1.27m
5:54PM1.34m
6:25AM1.30m
6:50PM1.31m
Low Tide
7:48AM-0.07m
8:22PM-0.05m
8:45AM-0.07m
9:18PM-0.01m
9:44AM-0.06m
10:17PM0.03m
10:44AM-0.04m
11:19PM0.07m
11:43AM-0.01m
00:17AM0.11m
12:40PM0.03m
1:11AM0.14m
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
heavy rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:28
6:26
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
 mm
3
19
1
1
Temp °C
8
11
11
9
11
13
11
13
12
9
10
10
8
11
12
11
15
14
11
Feels °C
3
7
7
6
7
8
5
9
8
4
7
7
3
8
9
7
14
11
9
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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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