Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 15s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 19s period, SSE swell with 2,668 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period with ESE 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 Friday (Jul 17) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 10s. 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 1.9m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about it in feet and Fahrenheit.
Water temp is about 57°, which is normal for the time of year.
We’ve got a good run coming up at Sponge Bay. Friday morning, July 17, kicks off with a clean 5ft swell from the ESE, a long 16-second period, and light cross-off winds from the NW. The energy is solid at 1056 (moderate), and conditions are looking very good. Friday afternoon holds the same quality, with energy climbing to 1122. This is a proper start.
Saturday morning, July 18, sees a slight drop to 4ft, still from the ESE, period dropping to 14 seconds, but again with light WNW cross-off winds and clean conditions. The energy is 932 – still moderate. Saturday afternoon goes onshore, so get out early.
Sunday morning, July 19, is the real standout. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the SSE, a very long 18-second period, and light WNW cross-off winds. The energy is a massive 1734 (strong). For experienced surfers, this is the best on offer. That long period will make the waves shape up nicely, though it’s better for the reef and point setups. Sunday afternoon is blown out.
Monday through Thursday is a mixed bag, with small, onshore, or marginal conditions. Tuesday afternoon (July 21) cleans up with a 5ft swell and cross-off wind – that’s a good session. Wednesday morning (July 22) is a small 3ft but clean. Nothing special.
Then Saturday, July 25, delivers a big 8ft SSW swell with a short 9-second period and light NW cross-off winds. The energy is 1447 (strong). This is big, punchy, and only for experts. Saturday afternoon is blown out.
Sunday, July 26, is still big at 8ft from the S, with an 8-second period, but the wind is cross-on and choppy.
After that, the swell drops off hard. From Monday, July 27, through to the end of the period, we’re looking at small, weak waves – mostly under 3ft, with periods around 10-12 seconds, and energy dropping to the low hundreds or even below 100. The last few days of July and into August are tiny.
So, the two real standouts: Friday morning, July 17 and Sunday morning, July 19. Friday gives you the best balance of size, clean conditions, and consistency. Sunday is the bigger, more powerful groundswell for the experienced crew. Get on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 21 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1029 | 978 | 880 | 732 | 586 | 2104 | 1377 | 950 | 679 | 621 | 657 | 2530 | 1136 | 811 | 490 | 269 | 178 | 169 | 71 | 118 | 70 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:28PM2.11m | 8:53AM1.99m | 9:21PM2.12m | 9:45AM2.01m | 10:13PM2.11m | 10:36AM2.00m | 11:02PM2.08m | 11:25AM1.98m | 11:47PM2.03m | 12:13PM1.94m | 00:29AM1.96m | 12:59PM1.88m | 1:10AM1.87m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:07PM0.45m | 2:51AM0.53m | 3:01PM0.47m | 3:41AM0.52m | 3:54PM0.50m | 4:31AM0.53m | 4:45PM0.54m | 5:19AM0.54m | 5:32PM0.59m | 6:06AM0.56m | 6:19PM0.64m | 6:49AM0.58m | 7:05PM0.70m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  | |  | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 21 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 1029 | 978 | 880 | 732 | 586 | 2104 | 1377 | 950 | 679 | 621 | 573 | 2530 | 1136 | 811 | 490 | 269 | 178 | 169 | 71 | 118 | 70 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | SSE 19 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | SSE 6 | SE 14 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 8 | 105 | 142 | 192 | 158 | 514 | 357 | 317 | 210 | 161 | 657 | 100 | 69 | 68 | 44 | 23 | 21 | 26 | 10 | 31 | 39 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 15 | S 15 | S 20 | S 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — |
| kJ | 19 | 39 | 113 | 8 | 432 | — | — | — | — | — | 123 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 3 | W 3 | — | SSW 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 36 | 45 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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