Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with 2,398 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, giving you the lowdown on Sponge Bay for the next couple of weeks.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got some clean, rideable waves, but nothing that’s going to blow your mind for the first week. The standout period is a big pulse of swell at the end of the month, but it comes with a serious warning.
Let’s start with Wednesday the 26th. The morning is your best early bet. We’ve got a long-period SSE groundswell at 2ft with an 18-second period, and a light cross-off breeze from the NW keeping it clean. The water is 54°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year. Wave energy is moderate (393). It’s not big, but fun on a log.
Thursday the 27th sees the swell bumping up to 4ft by the afternoon, but the wind goes cross-on from the SE and we’ve got rain showers. Not worth it. Friday the 28th morning cleans up with a light offshore from the N and a 3ft SSE swell. The period drops to 14 seconds, and the energy is moderate (404). A good, clean option.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see the swell dropping right off. Knee-high slop with weak energy (down to 33). Not worth getting wet.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Monday the 31st of August, a big swell hits. The morning shows an 12ft SSW groundswell with a very strong energy of 4255. The wind is light and cross from the W. But that 12ft is way too much for Sponge Bay. This is experts-only, and even then, it’s a mess. The afternoon gets onshore. Same story for Tuesday the 1st of September with a massive 15ft S swell (energy 8128) and a 12ft SSE swell on Tuesday afternoon going glassy. Huge numbers, but this spot can't handle it. Hard pass for paddle surfing.
We then settle back into small, clean conditions. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning has a 6ft SSE swell (876 energy) with a fresh cross-off breeze, but it’s still on the bigger side and windy. By Thursday the 3rd, we’re back to waist-high dribble.
There is one final glimmer. Tuesday the 8th of September, the afternoon shows a glassy 5ft SSE swell with a long 18-second period and a very strong energy of 1128. Conditions are expected to be very good. That’s a real standout for the second week, but it’s over a week away.
Bottom line: the first week is small and clean, with Friday the 28th morning being your best early call. The end of August has huge swell, but it's too big here. The best realistic surf looks like Tuesday afternoon on the 8th of September.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 16 | SSW 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 318 | 206 | 167 | 540 | 928 | 671 | 460 | 295 | 157 | 91 | 106 | 82 | 58 | 29 | 24 | 790 | 1783 | 805 | 1684 | 1991 | 1206 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 8:46AM1.99m | 9:04PM2.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:52PM0.48m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 |
| kJ | 318 | 206 | 167 | 540 | 928 | 671 | 460 | 295 | 157 | 91 | 106 | 82 | 58 | 29 | 15 | 315 | 1783 | 805 | 1684 | 1991 | 1206 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSE 11 | NE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 9 |
| kJ | 32 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 49 | 7 | 15 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 95 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | ESE 13 | S 18 | — | ESE 11 | NE 10 | SE 16 | SE 12 | NE 9 | ESE 14 | — | SE 12 | SW 5 | S 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 43 | 16 | 26 | — | 12 | 4 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 18 | — | 23 | 1 | 6 | 24 | 181 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WNW 2 | — | — | NE 4 | NE 5 | — | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | SSW 9 | — | WNW 3 | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 1 | — | — | 17 | 22 | — | 30 | 88 | 66 | — | — | — | — | 790 | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 88 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
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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