Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Break

Lat Long: 40.91° S 176.22° E

Castlepoint - The Gap Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 26 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Castlepoint - The Gap sea temperature is
11.9°C
0.7° 

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 26 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SSW swell with 6,171 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 13s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 28th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 13s
Best Surf 6AM (Mon 31st Aug)16ft (5.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 31st Aug)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s talk about Castlepoint - The Gap for the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at 53°F, which is about 1°F cooler than usual for this time of year, so nothing too crazy, just a bit chilly.

The forecast starts off pretty average. Wednesday afternoon the 26th has some small rideable waves with a 3ft swell from the SSW, but the 12 mph offshore NW wind is the only thing keeping it clean. The energy is weak at 393, so it’s really just a paddle for the sake of it. Then we hit a lull. Thursday the 27th through to Sunday the 30th is a write-off – the swell gets messy, drops away, or the wind turns onshore or cross-shore with a chop. Saturday morning the 30th sees a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a gentle offshore, but it’s just not doing anything.

Now, hold onto your board because Monday the 31st of August is the real standout. That morning, we get a solid 12ft S swell, with a 13-second period and a stacked energy reading of 4432. The wind is a gentle offshore from the WSW, keeping it clean. This is proper groundswell with heaps of punch, but it’s big – definitely only for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays clean with a 10ft S swell and a light offshore WNW breeze. This is the best on offer, no question.

Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the momentum going with a solid 7ft to 7ft S swell, still clean under a moderate offshore NW to WNW wind, and energy sitting around 1088 to 1299. Very good surf, but still on the bigger side – intermediate to advanced territory.

Wednesday the 2nd of September is a write-off. The swell is still there but the wind is a near-gale from the NW at 34 mph. It’s offshore and clean but you won’t be able to paddle into anything. Thursday the 3rd of September picks up again. The afternoon is another cracker: a 6ft SSW swell with a 20-second period, giving some serious energy at 2440. The wind is a moderate offshore WNW at 12 mph, keeping it clean. This is for experienced surfers again, given the size and power.

After that, it’s a slow fade. From Friday the 4th of September through to the end of the forecast, the swell drops back under 5ft, the wind is mostly offshore or cross-offshore, but the energy is weak and the surf is just ordinary. There’s a small window on Monday the 7th of September morning with a 4ft ENE swell, but the period is short at 8 seconds and the wind is blowing 22 mph, so it’s messy and hard work. The rest of the second week is tiny, under 3ft, and not worth getting excited about.

So, the big call is Monday the 31st of August and Thursday the 3rd of September afternoons – those are the ones to circle. The Gap is sheltered and gets the S/SSW swell well, but when it’s over 8ft, it’s only for the crew who know what they’re doing. The crowds are often there, so expect company for the good sessions.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Thu morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the WNW by Mon morning).

Wed
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
4
2
3
3
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
15
1.1
SSW
17
2.1
S
17
2
S
16
1.7
S
14
1.4
S
13
1.2
S
12
1
S
11
0.9
S
11
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
11
0.5
S
10
0.4
NE
9
2.1
SSW
8
3.5
S
13
3
S
14
2.1
S
13
2
S
12
2.2
S
12
1.8
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
376
737
2551
2038
1142
623
420
253
198
191
110
51
20
549
4414
3804
1423
1084
1288
880
Wind (km/h)
20
NW
30
W
10
SE
20
NE
20
NNE
20
N
20
NNW
30
NW
15
NW
20
NNW
15
WNW
15
W
25
WNW
35
SSW
15
WSW
10
WNW
25
WNW
20
NW
20
WNW
50
WNW
Wind State
off
off
on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
3:24PM1.20m
3:54AM1.07m
4:09PM1.18m
4:41AM1.07m
4:57PM1.18m
5:30AM1.08m
5:49PM1.18m
6:21AM1.12m
6:43PM1.19m
7:12AM1.17m
7:39PM1.22m
8:03AM1.24m
8:33PM1.24m
Low Tide
9:45PM0.23m
9:53AM0.22m
10:35PM0.24m
10:43AM0.21m
11:30PM0.24m
11:34AM0.20m
00:25AM0.24m
12:28PM0.19m
1:16AM0.22m
1:23PM0.17m
2:05AM0.20m
2:21PM0.15m
2:54AM0.17m
cloud
light rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
6:39
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
 mm
2
1
4
Temp °C
15
15
10
10
11
16
17
14
15
14
11
14
15
13
11
12
11
15
15
14
Feels °C
11
9
7
6
7
11
12
9
11
10
6
10
10
4
7
8
5
11
10
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Castlepoint - The Gap:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Castlepoint - The Gap surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest