Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
12.7° 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 18 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 19s period, S swell with 5,060 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 17s 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 19) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 13s. 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 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sun 19th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 17s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 19th Jul)6ft (1.9m) 17s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Castlepoint - The Gap region over the next couple of weeks.

First up, we've got a solid pulse of swell hitting Sunday morning, the 19th of July. We're looking at a solid 6.2 ft south-southwest swell with a very long 17-second period. That's a heap of energy in the water (2563), and the combined energy is strong. The wind is a light, 9 mph cross-off from the west, which is cleaning things up nicely. This is excellent surf, but make no mistake, at this size and with that long period, it's for experienced surfers only. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.

The rest of Sunday and all of Monday sees the swell holding size, but the wind shifts around and the tide gets messy, making it pretty ordinary. The morning of Tuesday the 21st is a different story though. The swell drops a touch to 6.9 ft from the south, still with a long 15-second period, and the energy is still strong (2002). The killer is the light offshore from the north-northwest, making for clean, well-shaped lines. It's another solid, fun wave for the crew who know what they're doing.

After that, things go quiet. We've got a few days of tiny, weak surf from Wednesday the 22nd through to the 25th of July. The combined energy drops from 362 down to just 32, so you're basically looking at a flat spell. There's about four days here where the surf is too small and poor to bother getting wet.

Then on Sunday the 26th of July, a big winter swell arrives. We're talking 9.8 ft from the south-southwest, with heaps of energy (3420). The wind is a cross-off from the west-southwest, so it will be clean, but this is a heavy, powerful wave. It's going to be a big, bumpy, expert-only beast. This pattern of big, clean but chunky surf continues through Monday the 27th and into the start of the week, with strong winds and very high energy (up to 4972). It's surfable for the hardcore, but the quality is marginal due to the size and wind strength.

After that, the wind goes onshore and the swell drops, giving us a few more days of poor, small surf from Tuesday the 28th through to the 31st of July. The beginning of August sees a similar story: small, weak, and not worth the drive.

The best bet in this whole outlook is that Tuesday morning, the 21st of July. It's a standout moment of clean, solid, south swell with a light offshore wind at Castlepoint - The Gap. It's a sheltered spot, and it's known to be fairly consistent, but with a good swell like this, it'll be working. Crowds are often a factor here, so get in early.

Stay safe out there.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
1
2
2
3
4
4
3
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.2
S
19
1.9
SSW
17
1.7
SSW
16
1.9
S
15
2
S
15
2.5
S
19
2.5
S
17
2.1
S
15
1.8
S
14
1.5
S
13
0.8
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
12
0.6
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
11
0.3
SSW
9
0.4
ENE
6
0.5
NE
6
0.5
NE
6
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3614
2212
1512
1611
1780
4849
3551
1933
1207
724
195
203
133
85
51
17
14
19
21
Wind (km/h)
25
WNW
15
W
20
SSW
15
SSW
10
SSW
10
S
5
SE
10
NNW
10
N
15
NW
10
W
10
S
5
WNW
15
N
25
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
15
WSW
Wind State
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:03AM1.36m
9:29PM1.40m
9:55AM1.36m
10:23PM1.36m
10:46AM1.36m
11:13PM1.33m
11:36AM1.35m
00:01AM1.29m
12:26PM1.33m
00:46AM1.26m
1:14PM1.32m
1:32AM1.22m
Low Tide
2:59AM-0.02m
3:16PM-0.04m
3:52AM0.01m
4:14PM0.01m
4:42AM0.05m
5:08PM0.07m
5:30AM0.10m
6:00PM0.13m
6:15AM0.15m
6:48PM0.18m
6:58AM0.21m
7:34PM0.22m
clear
part cloud
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rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:33
7:33
7:31
7:31
7:30
7:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:10
5:12
5:13
 mm
1
Temp °C
11
13
12
10
10
10
10
9
11
10
11
11
10
11
12
11
14
14
12
Feels °C
6
9
8
6
6
7
7
5
8
6
9
8
9
5
7
6
9
9
9
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  • 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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