· By Bach NZ
Spring at Castlepoint: golf, fishing and surfing
There comes a point after winter when another weekend indoors loses its appeal. You want to open the windows, find your walking shoes and go somewhere you can see a little further than the next building.
Castlepoint is a good place to begin. September brings the start of spring in New Zealand: time for a lighthouse walk, a round at Castlepoint Golf Course, or an outing with a fishing rod or surfboard when conditions suit. Leave room for lunch outside when the sun comes through and an afternoon with very little on the agenda. Bring a warm layer as well as your sunglasses; spring on the coast can bring a few showers with it.
Walk to Castlepoint lighthouse
Make your first outing a wander towards the Castlepoint lighthouse. The reef, lagoon and open ocean give Castlepoint its unmistakable outline; seeing them together is a lovely way to put the working week behind you. Take your camera, but leave enough time to stop without it.
The Department of Conservation’s Castlepoint guide has current visitor advice. Follow marked tracks, keep back from cliff edges and give seals and nesting birds their space. DOC warns that the reef is dangerous and waves can be unpredictable, so choose your walk to suit the conditions.
Back at beach level, a thermos and a stretch of sand can be all the entertainment you need. Our guide to Castlepoint has more ideas for getting to know the area.
A round of golf at Castlepoint Golf course
For a change from the beach, leave time for nine holes at Castlepoint. Castlepoint Golf Club welcomes visiting players, and its green-fee information explains how to sign in and pay. A round of country golf followed by a quiet evening at the bach sounds like a pretty good spring day to us.
Drop a line over the reef or cast from the beach
Whether you prefer reef fishing or casting from the beach in the bay, bring the gear you enjoy using for fishing at Castlepoint and keep the day flexible. Seek local advice about a suitable spot and the conditions before heading out. A sunny morning does not tell you what the sea is doing, and the reef should never be treated as an easy place to fish simply because it is close to shore.
Check Fisheries New Zealand’s current fishing rules for the area and your intended catch before the trip. Pack a measure and decide how you will keep any fish you retain chilled. There is no need to build the whole holiday around a catch; an afternoon watching the water can be a good part of the stay too.
Surfing at Castlepoint: the Gap, Main Beach and Slipperies
There is more than one place to take a board at Castlepoint. These three local breaks offer different settings, so check the surf and wind before choosing where to go.
The Gap, by the lagoon
The Gap is at the entrance to Deliverance Cove, beside the lagoon. It is a beach break framed by Castlepoint’s distinctive coastal landforms, with a different setting from the main bay.
Main Beach, in the bay
Main Beach is the bay’s sandy beach-break option. The waves change with the sandbanks and conditions, so take time to look along the beach before deciding whether it suits your session.
Slipperies, towards Mataikona
North of Castlepoint, off Mataikona Road, Slipperies is an exposed reef and point break. It calls for a different judgement from the beach breaks; check local advice and match the conditions to your experience.
Greater Wellington’s surf-break report describes these local breaks. It is background on the coast, rather than a forecast for your visit. If the sea does not suit, keep the board dry and take a walk to the lighthouse followed by coffee instead.
Wairarapa spring events in 2026
You can make the coast the whole holiday, or combine it with something happening inland. The events below are elsewhere in Wairarapa, so allow for the drive and consider a stop on your way to or from Castlepoint.
18 September — Hospice Wairarapa Golf Day
Friday, at Carterton Golf Club. A team-of-four tournament supporting local hospice services, with tee-off advertised for 10 am. Check entry availability with Hospice Wairarapa before making plans.
31 October–1 November — Wairarapa A&P Show
Saturday–Sunday, at Clareville Showgrounds near Carterton. Add some country-show atmosphere to a coastal weekend. The Wairarapa A&P Show organisers have confirmed the dates and publish the programme and entry information.
6–15 November — Wairarapa Walking Festival
Destination Wairarapa’s spring calendar lists this ten-day festival. Choose a walk that suits your group and check its starting point, difficulty and registration details.
There are two useful windows for a longer stay, too: the spring school holidays run from 26 September to 11 October, and Labour Day falls on Monday 26 October, making 24–26 October the long weekend.
Dates checked on 8 September 2026. Follow the organiser links for the latest programme, tickets and any changes.
Plan your spring bach stay
You do not need to fill every day. Bring something good to cook, a book you have been meaning to open and shoes you can get sandy. A couple of nights away can leave enough room for both an outing and a morning with no plans.
Our two baches share one property, with the beach across the road. Bach A sleeps up to four, while Bach B sleeps up to three. Compare our Castlepoint accommodation to choose your stay, or look at both for a stay with family or friends.
Before you travel, our Castlepoint bach packing guide covers linen, meals and arrival arrangements.
Check your spring dates and give yourself a few days by the sea. Booking requests are confirmed by us after we check availability across our calendars.