Last updated October 2026
Castlepoint is a small beach settlement on the Wairarapa east coast, in Masterton District, known for its lighthouse, its reef and lagoon, and the 162-metre Matira / Castle Rock. It is a long way from Wellington city: newzealand.com puts it at about 2 hours 30 minutes’ drive, and it is about another hour on from Masterton.
Greater Wellington Regional Council lists three significant surf breaks here, on the main beach, at Christmas Bay and at The Gap by the lagoon. The Department of Conservation warns that the reef is extremely dangerous and that people have died here, so take the safety advice seriously.
Surf Facts
Surf today at Castlepoint
Today at Castlepoint
Monday 2 NovemberSurf breaks at Castlepoint
3 breaks: 3 beach breaksShowHide
Practical Information
- Location
- Castlepoint, Masterton District, Wairarapa east coast
- Drive time
- About 2 hours 30 minutes from Wellington; about 1 hour from Masterton
- Route
- From the northern outskirts of Masterton, take Te Ore Ore Road, which becomes Masterton Castlepoint Road
- Public transport
- Trains run from Wellington to Masterton, but you need a vehicle from Masterton to Castlepoint
- Surf breaks
- Castlepoint Main Beach, Christmas Bay and The Gap (Greater Wellington Schedule K)
- Lifeguards
- No patrol found
- Facilities
- Store and tearooms on the beachfront; public toilets at the road end and opposite the store
- Walks
- Lighthouse Walk (30 min return); Deliverance Cove Track (1 hr 30 min return)
- Dogs
- On a leash in Castlepoint Scenic Reserve
- Cost
- Free
About Castlepoint
DOC calls Castlepoint one of the most spectacular sites along the Wairarapa coastline. It looks after Castlepoint Scenic Reserve, which takes in the reef, the lagoon, the sand dunes and Matira / Castle Rock, and describes it as a spectacular stretch of coastline with a fossil-rich limestone reef. Long stretches of beach and the sheltered lagoon are used for all kinds of water sports.
The site has deep Māori history. DOC says Rangiwhakaoma was one of the earliest sites of human occupation in Aotearoa: the navigator Kupe named it Rangiwhakaoma, “the skies that race”, for the way the clouds raced across the sky.
Rangitāne o Wairarapa Tamaki Nui ā Rua and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui a Rua share mana whenua over the area. The English name came from Captain Cook in 1770, who thought Castle Rock looked like the battlements of a castle.
The Castlepoint Lighthouse was first lit in 1913. Destination Wairarapa calls it one of the last two beam lighthouses left in New Zealand, and WellingtonNZ says it stands 52 metres above sea level, with a 23-metre tower. Te Ara notes that Castlepoint is also famous for its annual horse races on the beach.
The reserve is the only place in the world where the Castlepoint daisy, Brachyglottis compactus, grows, on the crumbled limestone of the reef and Castle Rock. Dolphins and fur seals visit often, and occasionally small whales.
White-fronted terns, red-billed gulls and black shags live on the south end of the reef, and reef herons and black-backed gulls nest on Castle Rock’s cliffs. Taking fossils is not allowed.
Surfing at Castlepoint
Greater Wellington’s Natural Resources Plan lists three Castlepoint breaks in Schedule K. Castlepoint Main Beach and Christmas Bay are sand beach breaks with left and right handers, and The Gap, at the lagoon, is a sand beach break with right handers.
All three have a listed skill level of all, and the schedule records rides of up to about 220 metres on the main beach, 150 metres at Christmas Bay and 230 metres at The Gap. Destination Wairarapa also points surfers to the main beach and The Gap.
The skill listings are planning records, not safety ratings. We could not find a surf patrol at Castlepoint, and The Gap sits next to the reef that DOC calls extremely dangerous. The Surf Facts box on this page shows each break’s direction, swell window and offshore wind.
Walks to the Lighthouse and Castle Rock
All of the reserve’s walks start at the road-end car park. The Lighthouse Walk takes about 30 minutes return, following a boardwalk over the reef to the lighthouse and on to lookouts over the coast, then down a set of stairs along the cliffs. DOC rates it an easy short walk, with a fall risk near the cliffs.
The Deliverance Cove Track climbs above the lagoon through pines towards the base of Castle Rock, about 1 hour 30 minutes return.
DOC says it is open from the car park to the base of Castle Rock but cannot be walked as a loop, because the section from the south end of the beach to the base of the rock is closed by a large slip.
DOC does not recommend the steep trail to the top of Castle Rock, and warns of rockfall near the rock.
Safety on the Reef and Beach
DOC is blunt about the reef by the lagoon: it is extremely dangerous, sea conditions are unpredictable, and tidal and rogue waves have caused deaths. Stay off it, keep away from cliff edges, and keep children close. Do not disturb or approach fur seals, especially where the Deliverance Cove Track meets the beach.
The beach is shared with vehicles. DOC says motorbikes, cars, four-wheel drives and tractors towing boats are allowed on the beach (but not the dunes), and boats and jet skis launch where people also swim and surf.
Stay alert in the water and on the sand. Masterton District Council posts roadworks notices for Masterton Castlepoint Road, so check them before the long drive.
Where to Learn More
DOC: Castlepoint Scenic Reserve: walks, safety warnings, wildlife and rules for the reef, lagoon and Castle Rock.
Destination Wairarapa: Castlepoint: the regional tourism guide to the lighthouse, lagoon, surf spots and things to do nearby.
Greater Wellington: Operative Natural Resources Plan: Schedule K lists the region’s significant surf breaks, including the three at Castlepoint.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Castlepoint from Wellington?
It is a long day trip. newzealand.com puts it at about 2 hours 30 minutes’ drive from Wellington, and DOC says it is about an hour’s drive from Masterton.
Can you get to Castlepoint by public transport?
Only part of the way. Trains run from Wellington to Masterton, but WellingtonNZ says you need a vehicle from Masterton to Castlepoint.
Is Castlepoint patrolled by lifeguards?
We could not find a surf patrol at Castlepoint, so check before you swim and never swim alone. Stay well away from the reef by the lagoon.
What are the surf breaks at Castlepoint?
Greater Wellington’s Schedule K lists Castlepoint Main Beach and Christmas Bay (sand beach breaks with left and right handers) and The Gap at the lagoon (a sand beach break with right handers).
Can you walk up Castle Rock?
The Deliverance Cove Track goes to the base of Castle Rock, about 1 hour 30 minutes return. DOC does not recommend the steep trail to the top for safety reasons.
How long is the Castlepoint Lighthouse Walk?
About 30 minutes return from the road-end car park, along a boardwalk over the reef to the lighthouse and lookouts.
Are dogs allowed at Castlepoint?
DOC says to keep dogs on a leash in Castlepoint Scenic Reserve, and its walk pages list both the Lighthouse Walk and the Deliverance Cove Track as dogs on a leash only.
Can you camp at Castlepoint?
Camping is not allowed in the scenic reserve. DOC says the motor camp at the northern end of the beach is the only place you can camp.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 2
- Today at Castlepoint: Tides: LINZ, CC BY 4.0; predictions only.
- Surf Facts: Breaks, type and skill level: Greater Wellington Regional Council surf break layer (CC BY 4.0). The way each break faces, the swell that can reach it and its offshore wind are worked out from the LINZ coastline (CC BY 4.0); positions checked on LINZ aerial photos. Legal access: Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, Outdoor Access Commission, from LINZ and DOC data (CC BY 4.0).