Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 5 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, S swell with 4,817 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Sponge bay this week:
The surf forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 06) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 20s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 6th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, let’s get into it for Sponge Bay. The next couple of weeks have some moments, but you’ll have to pick your windows carefully. Water temp is sitting at about 56.3°F, which is roughly 2.2° colder than usual for this time of year – definitely a bit nippy, so don’t forget the extra neoprene. The break is a beach and reef setup, fairly exposed, and handles swell from the SSE best, but it’s a beginner-friendly spot.
We start off Monday July 6th with a small 3.6 ft easterly, period around 9 seconds. Light breeze from the north keeps things clean, but conditions are just ordinary – combined energy only 188, so weak. That afternoon it gets even smaller and a bit useless. Tuesday the 7th is the first real glimmer: dawn sees light westerly glass off, 3.9 ft east swell at 10 seconds, energy building to 334. That’s clean and glassy – worth a paddle if you’re free. But then things go downhill pretty quick.
From Wednesday the 8th through Friday the 10th, it’s all onshore slop. Swell jumps up but the wind turns nasty – strong breezes, rain, and choppy as hell. On Friday the 10th, the wind howls from the south at 28 mph, pushing 14.8 ft of pure mess. Combined energy hits 6225 – that’s serious power, but not for surfing. Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th remain poor, though Sunday morning has a gentler cross-onshore and 8.2 ft SE swell, but it’s still rough.
Then a break in the weather: Monday the
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Fri morning, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 9 | S 21 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 175 | 8 | 239 | 255 | 320 | 459 | 544 | 562 | 490 | 455 | 356 | 1510 | 1032 | 4287 | 3998 | 2279 | 1913 | 1104 | 1250 | 716 | 376 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:29AM1.82m | 10:59PM1.93m | 11:12AM1.84m | 11:39PM1.94m | 11:56AM1.85m | 00:18AM1.93m | 12:42PM1.87m | 00:59AM1.91m | 1:30PM1.89m | 1:45AM1.89m | 2:19PM1.90m | 2:38AM1.86m | 3:12PM1.90m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:37PM0.59m | 5:17AM0.59m | 5:18PM0.57m | 5:59AM0.54m | 6:00PM0.55m | 6:40AM0.49m | 6:45PM0.54m | 7:24AM0.45m | 7:35PM0.54m | 8:10AM0.42m | 8:29PM0.54m | 9:01AM0.42m | 9:28PM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | — | 4:59 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — |
mm | — | 5 | 7 | — | — | — | 4 | 2 | 6 | — | 1 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 20 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 175 | 275 | 239 | 255 | 320 | 459 | 544 | 562 | 490 | 455 | 356 | 31 | 1020 | 1938 | 1951 | 1162 | 1026 | 654 | 798 | 716 | 376 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 21 | SSE 19 | SSE 17 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 9 | SSE 16 | SSW 20 | — | — | — | SSE 16 | S 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 4 | 8 | 69 | 58 | 20 | 18 | 41 | 37 | 32 | 48 | 25 | 37 | — | — | — | 49 | 18 | 63 | 86 | 74 | 68 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 22 | S 13 | — | S 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSW 13 | S 17 | SSW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | S 20 | S 14 | — | SW 11 | — |
| kJ | 9 | 4 | — | 21 | 51 | 48 | 16 | 14 | 31 | 23 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | 16 | — | 29 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | — | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | S 7 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 262 | — | 389 | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 246 | 250 | 1510 | 1032 | 4287 | 3998 | 2279 | 1913 | 1104 | 1250 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 45 | 10 | 44 | 121 | 121 | 121 | 118 | 68 | 68 | 68 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Sponge bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Sponge bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Sponge bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Sponge bay 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 (Sponge bay) 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 Sponge bay 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 Gisborne and Mahia? If you are looking for accommodation near Sponge bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Gisborne and Mahia, consider staying in Gisborne which is 8 km (5 miles) away.
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