Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 19 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
11.9° C
0.8° 

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 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with 3,344 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 13s is also forecast. 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 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Thu 20th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Best Surf 9AM (Thu 20th Aug)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 3PM (Wed 19th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at the waves coming our way for Castlepoint – The Gap. It’s a bit of a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks, so let’s break it down.

We start off with a bang, but it’s a tricky one. On Wednesday the 19th, we’ve got a serious pulse of southwest swell pushing in. The morning shows a solid 15ft of south swell with a strong 30 km/h cross-shore wind. The energy is pumping at 9940. However, that’s a whole lot of water for this spot, especially for a beginner. It’s going to be wild and powerful, not the day to test your luck if you’re new to this. The water temp is 53°F, which is about 1°F cooler than the long-term average for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a bit of a nip in the air. The afternoon sees the swell drop to 10ft but the period stretches out to 15 seconds. Still too big and unruly for a clean session.

Thursday the 20th is a step down. The swell backs off to 7ft in the morning with a 15 km/h cross-offshore breeze from the southwest. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but it’s surfable. The afternoon is smaller but a bit messier with a cross-shore wind. Not a standout, but there are waves.

Friday the 21st is where things get interesting. The morning brings a clean 5ft of south swell, a 16-second period, and light cross-offshore winds from the NNW. The energy is solid at 1317, and it’s looking clean. The afternoon is even better with a light offshore wind and 5ft of swell. This is shaping up to be a good day for a paddle.

Saturday the 22nd is a letdown. The swell drops to 3ft, and although the wind is offshore, it’s a fresh 30 km/h breeze that will make it hard to get into the waves. The energy is weak at 253. Sunday is worse – tiny 1ft leftover swell and gale-force offshore winds. Forget it, you’d be fighting the wind more than riding waves. It’s a couple of days of small, blown-out surf.

There’s a bit of a pickup on Monday the 24th. We’ve got 3ft to 4ft of SSW swell with a good 15-second period in the afternoon. The wind is a moderate offshore, which will keep it clean. It’s a fun, small day, but not epic.

Tuesday the 25th looks frustrating. The swell is around 3ft, but a strong 40 km/h offshore wind will make it howling and hard to paddle into. You’ll see clean faces but it will be a battle just to get out the back. Not recommended.

From Wednesday the 26th through to the end of the month, it goes quiet. The swell drops off, the winds turn onshore or cross-shore, and the energy dies. There are a few days with small swell and onshore winds which will leave it lumpy and uninviting. This is a proper flat spell, lasting several days with no real recommendations. The 28th sees a bit of a rise in swell but with a short, weak period and onshore winds, so it’s not worth much.

As we roll into September, things start to look a little more promising. Thursday the 3rd shows a decent 6ft SSW swell with a 15-second period and light, cross-offshore winds in the morning. The energy is climbing to 1359, and the conditions look clean. This is a promising long-range pick, but remember, it’s still over a week away, so it’s not set in stone.

The other standout in this period is Friday the 21st of August. That morning with the clean 5ft south swell and good period looks like the pick of the first week.

So, to sum it up – we have some solid, overhead surf arriving Wednesday but it’s too big and messy. Your best bets look to be Friday the 21st for a clean, fun session, and then keep an eye on that Thursday the 3rd of September as a potential good one. It’s a classic case of being patient and picking your moment.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 11°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (near gales from the WNW on Sun morning, light winds from the WNW by Sun night).

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
!
2
3
3
2
3
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
1
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
4.5
S
12
3
S
15
3
SSW
14
2
S
8
2.1
S
8
1.6
S
13
1.6
S
16
1.5
S
13
1.2
S
12
1
S
11
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.3
ESE
13
0.3
ESE
12
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
13
1
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
14
1
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5552
3344
3069
522
617
839
1226
806
409
244
191
100
48
33
31
392
456
326
468
465
425
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
25
SSW
25
SW
10
WSW
15
S
5
S
5
NNE
15
NW
30
NW
30
NW
35
WNW
40
NW
50
WNW
40
WNW
20
WNW
25
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
30
WNW
30
WNW
40
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
10:17AM1.34m
10:43PM1.29m
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
Low Tide
4:42PM0.13m
4:59AM0.17m
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
cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:00
6:58
6:56
6:54
6:54
6:52
6:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:37
5:38
5:39
5:40
5:42
5:42
5:43
 mm
1
Temp °C
8
8
10
11
10
9
12
14
10
13
14
14
15
14
11
15
15
13
15
15
13
Feels °C
1
2
5
6
6
7
10
11
4
5
6
7
5
5
4
9
11
9
10
9
6
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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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