Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 1 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 13s period, S swell with 8,604 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period with SE 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 5.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-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 Monday (Aug 03) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here with the imperial take for Sponge Bay. Let’s break it down.
Right off the bat, Sunday the 2nd of August is your best bet. Sponge Bay is looking clean with a 6ft swell out of the SSE, holding a 12-second interval. The wave energy is sitting at a solid moderate 1043, and with a light WNW cross-off breeze at about 6 mph, it’s going to be glassy. The water is sitting at 55°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so grab a good wetsuit. This is the standout session – get in the water Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon the wind swings onshore and it gets messy.
Monday the 3rd starts clean at around 4ft but the wind is up to 12 mph, and the energy drops to 317. It’s surfable but nothing special. From Tuesday the 4th through Wednesday the 5th, we get a big pulse – 12ft to 13ft from the south – but it’s all tied up with howling onshore winds (25-28 mph) and rain. Total mess. The energy numbers go through the roof (2363 Tuesday morning, 8558 Wednesday morning), but you wouldn’t want to be out there. It’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.
Thursday the 6th drops to about 6ft but the wind is bumpy and cross-shore, so not worth it. Friday the 7th is small and not clean. Then we get a nice little window on Saturday the 8th of August. Morning brings a clean 5ft from the SE, period 13 seconds, with a light WNW cross-off breeze at 6 mph. The energy is a solid moderate 700. It’s not big, but it’ll be fun. That’s your second-best option.
After Saturday the 8th, it drops right off. Sunday the 9th has 3ft to 3ft, then it gets tiny – we’re talking 0.7ft to 1ft for most of the following week. There’s a gap of pretty much no decent surf from around the 10th through the 16th. The energy numbers are in the single digits to low 100s – weak.
Then, way out on the 17th of August (Monday), there’s a late surge. An 8ft SSW swell at a short 8-second period pops up, with a fresh 18 mph cross-off wind from the NW. The energy is 1461 – solid. But that short period means it’ll be a bit messy. It’s a far-out promise, so don’t bet the farm on it. It’s only for the experts by that size.
So, in short: Sunday the 2nd of August morning is the one to aim for. Saturday the 8th morning is a solid second. The rest is a long stretch of small or blown-out surf.
Stay wet, stay keen.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Sun morning). Winds increasing (calm on Sun afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Tue afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed morning, light winds from the W by Fri morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | S 8 | SSE 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 952 | 626 | 354 | 305 | 220 | 233 | 1364 | 2954 | 7403 | 5582 | 3723 | 1256 | 728 | 515 | 235 | 250 | 742 | 1314 | 700 | 471 | 350 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:03PM1.97m | 9:19AM1.89m | 9:43PM1.98m | 10:00AM1.91m | 10:23PM1.98m | 10:42AM1.92m | 11:05PM1.95m | 11:28AM1.91m | 11:47PM1.92m | 12:16PM1.90m | 00:32AM1.88m | 1:05PM1.89m | 1:22AM1.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 2:43PM0.56m | 3:20AM0.58m | 3:24PM0.54m | 4:00AM0.54m | 4:05PM0.52m | 4:41AM0.50m | 4:47PM0.51m | 5:24AM0.47m | 5:31PM0.52m | 6:09AM0.46m | 6:20PM0.54m | 6:56AM0.45m | 7:14PM0.57m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 7 | -1 | -3 | -3 | -2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 8 | NE 12 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 15 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 952 | 626 | 354 | 305 | 220 | 233 | 534 | 6 | 3652 | 2976 | 2029 | 1256 | 728 | 515 | 235 | 250 | 250 | 1314 | 700 | 471 | 350 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 15 | SE 7 | S 22 | S 20 | SSE 18 | SSE 15 | — | — | — | — | ESE 16 | SE 15 | S 11 | SE 6 | ESE 12 | SSE 17 | SE 12 | NE 14 | SE 12 | SE 12 |
| kJ | 91 | 55 | 44 | 9 | 32 | 34 | 462 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 58 | 467 | 38 | 61 | 742 | 48 | 7 | 24 | 167 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 16 | SE 13 | E 14 | E 13 | SE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | — | NE 18 | NE 18 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SSE 20 | SE 12 | NE 14 | — | NE 13 | S 15 |
| kJ | 24 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 12 | 97 | 46 | 75 | 39 | 8 | — | 7 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | — | S 8 | SSE 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1364 | 2954 | 7403 | 5582 | 3723 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 36 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 125 | 294 | 125 | 125 | 155 | 5 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 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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