
Surf Forecasts:
Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 11s period, SSE swell with 6,847 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 5 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ENE 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 05) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 10s. 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 5.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) 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 0.1m 14s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sun 5th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 11ft (3.5m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 18ft (5.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Castlepoint - The Gap over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright mate, let’s talk about what’s cooking at Castlepoint - The Gap.
We’re starting slow, but there’s a decent pulse of swell coming through later in the first week if you can wait. Water temp is about 55°, which is normal for the season.
Sunday morning kicks off with chest-high waves around 5ft from the ENE, period about 8 seconds. Wind is a light cross-off out of the north, keeping it pretty clean. Wave energy is moderate (407). It’s surfable for beginners, but the short period means it’s a bit gutless.
Then we hit a rough patch. Monday through Thursday of the first week is mostly messy – the swell gets bigger, but the wind turns onshore or stays crappy. Tuesday afternoon sees a big jump with 13ft from the east and a 10-second period, but light rain and a cross wind spoil it. Energy is very strong (5379), but that’s just raw power, not quality.
Here’s the real highlight. Wednesday, 8 July morning is the one. The Gap gets a solid 10ft southeast groundswell with an 11-second period, and the wind is offshore from the WNW. That’s clean, powerful surf. Combined energy is very strong (2363). This is for experts only – anything over 8ft gets serious. Crowds are often here, so expect a few heads.
After that, it goes south. Thursday and Friday bring a strong southerly change with onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions – not worth it. Saturday and Sunday the 12th are still poor with strong onshore winds and rain. The swell stays big, but the quality is gone.
In the second week, things settle. Tuesday, 14 July morning has about 7ft from the ESE with an 11-second period, and a light cross-off wind from the north keeps it clean. Energy is strong (1476). Not as punchy as the 8th, but a solid option.
The rest of the second week drops off. Wednesday the 15th has clean 6ft waves, but energy fades (925). By the 16th and 17th, the swell drops below 3ft, and while the wind is offshore, it’s blowing fresh to strong, making it a chore. The 18th offers tiny 3ft glassy conditions from the SSW with a very long 14-second period – that’s a longboard day if you’re keen.
Best bet in this 16-day window is definitely Wednesday morning, 8 July. Get it while it’s clean.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun night, light winds from the NE by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 32mm), heaviest during Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Wed morning, strong winds from the SSE by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
274 | 192 | 158 | 276 | 577 | 463 | 1834 | 3144 | 2968 | 1908 | 1278 | 808 | 1893 | 6847 | 2099 | 1412 | 2058 | 1492 | 1234 | 1067 | 1154 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:16PM1.18m | 9:41AM1.15m | 10:04PM1.20m | 10:24AM1.20m | 10:51PM1.23m | 11:10AM1.26m | 11:38PM1.27m | 11:59AM1.33m | 00:27AM1.31m | 12:51PM1.40m | 1:19AM1.33m | 1:45PM1.47m | 2:16AM1.35m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:57PM0.20m | 3:46AM0.17m | 3:45PM0.19m | 4:28AM0.16m | 4:34PM0.17m | 5:12AM0.15m | 5:24PM0.15m | 5:56AM0.13m | 6:15PM0.13m | 6:41AM0.11m | 7:07PM0.10m | 7:30AM0.09m | 8:02PM0.06m | ||||||||
7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
— | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 14 | — | 8 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 11 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Feels °C | 8 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ENE 8 | E 10 | ENE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | SSW 10 | E 10 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | S 8 | E 10 | SSW 21 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 |
125 | 192 | 158 | 276 | 577 | 463 | 135 | 2037 | 2968 | 1908 | 1278 | 569 | 932 | 44 | 978 | 1412 | 2058 | 1492 | 1234 | 1067 | 1154 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | E 10 | ENE 8 | S 4 | SSW 7 | ENE 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 9 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 21 | SSW 19 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | S 21 | SSW 19 | S 16 |
5 | 156 | 74 | 8 | 17 | 246 | 85 | 115 | 107 | 69 | 55 | 808 | 84 | 87 | 120 | 195 | 253 | 228 | 33 | 118 | 132 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 17 | S 15 | S 21 | SSW 19 | SSW 10 | — | SSW 16 | — | S 21 | — | SSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 20 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 |
3 | 6 | 4 | 33 | 72 | 86 | — | 83 | — | 9 | — | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 82 | 40 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | — | — | ENE 8 | — | — | E 9 | E 10 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | — | S 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 |
274 | — | — | 231 | — | — | 1834 | 3144 | 87 | 377 | 970 | — | 1893 | 6847 | 2099 | 1215 | 422 | 447 | 491 | 430 | 316 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 156 | 99 | 37 | 99 | 1 | 76 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 102 | 296 | 310 | 287 | 278 | 273 | 102 | 169 | 102 |
Best forecast wave conditions in The Wairarapa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










