Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, S swell with 3,648 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 12s period with SSE 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Sponge Bay.
First up, don’t get your hopes too high – it’s a mixed bag for the next couple of weeks. The water’s sitting at 54°F right now, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, running about 3°F below normal, so you’ll want the thick rubber.
The one day that really jumps out is Tuesday, September 1st. The morning lookin’ good: clean surf with a light offshore breeze, waves around 5ft from the SSE, and the wave energy hitting a solid 779 – that’s a decent push. That’s your best chance for some proper rides. The afternoon is still nice, dropping a touch to 5ft with a clean cross-off breeze.
Before that, Friday, August 28th morning offers something worth paddling out for – 4ft from the SSE with offshore wind, and the energy is a moderate 463. Clean, but not a standout.
Now, Monday, August 31st is a no-go for paddling – a big 10ft swell rolls in, but the winds are onshore and strong, making it a choppy mess. That one’s more for the kite crew.
After the 1st of September, the surf really fades. The second week is mostly small and weak. There’s a little blip on Wednesday, September 9th morning, with 6ft from the SSE and 760 energy – but the wind swings onshore by the afternoon and messes it up. Keep it on the radar, but don’t bank on it.
Bottom line: the consistency is low. If you’re chasing waves, aim for the 1st of September. The rest is mostly flat or blown out.
Catch you in the water,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sat night, strong winds from the SSW by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 14 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 227 | 119 | 231 | 318 | 206 | 167 | 781 | 992 | 796 | 453 | 265 | 157 | 85 | 82 | 60 | 58 | 20 | 19 | 1176 | 1699 | 2719 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:41PM1.69m | 4:20AM1.65m | 4:58PM1.73m | 5:17AM1.71m | 5:51PM1.81m | 6:03AM1.79m | 6:32PM1.89m | 6:45AM1.86m | 7:10PM1.96m | 7:25AM1.92m | 7:46PM2.01m | 8:06AM1.96m | 8:24PM2.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:27AM0.82m | 10:10PM0.83m | 10:32AM0.78m | 11:11PM0.79m | 11:26AM0.72m | 00:02AM0.73m | 12:10PM0.65m | 00:46AM0.66m | 12:50PM0.58m | 1:26AM0.59m | 1:30PM0.53m | 2:04AM0.52m | 2:10PM0.50m | 2:42AM0.47m | |||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Feels °C | 13 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 8 | NE 10 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 227 | 119 | 231 | 318 | 206 | 167 | 781 | 992 | 796 | 453 | 265 | 157 | 85 | 82 | 60 | 58 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 15 | 1412 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | SSE 16 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SE 7 | ENE 4 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | ESE 13 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 16 | 51 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 53 | 57 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 20 | 9 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | ESE 12 | SE 12 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | S 18 | — | ESE 11 | E 16 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 13 | ENE 6 | ESE 13 | SSE 15 | S 19 | ESE 12 | SSE 14 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1 | 15 | 24 | 43 | 16 | 6 | — | 12 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 28 | 3 | 16 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 19 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | W 2 | S 7 | — | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNW 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | S 11 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 86 | — | 10 | 15 | 52 | 4 | 20 | 38 | — | — | — | — | 1176 | 1699 | 2719 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 42 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 53 | 98 | 118 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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