Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 10 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 15s period, ESE swell with 752 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. 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 1.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s break down what’s happening at Sponge Bay.
Right off the bat, the first few days are tough. Saturday morning has chest-high swell from the ESE, but a stiff south-southwest wind is blowing straight onshore and messing it all up. Energy is moderate (828), but the conditions are just ugly. Water temp is normal for this time of year, nothing to mention.
Sunday is still messy – smaller swell, cross and cross-onshore winds keeping things choppy. The energy drops into the 300s. From Monday through Thursday of this week it’s really small – knee-high at best – and while it’s clean at times, there’s hardly any push.
Now, the real window opens on Friday, July 17th. That morning we get clean, cross-offshore wind from the northwest with an ESE groundswell running 1.2m and a 15-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell. Energy is solid at 644. The afternoon is even better: clean offshore breeze from the north-northeast, 1.3m swell at 14 seconds, energy up to 752. That’s your best bet. Since it’s a beach and reef setup, that long period might make it a bit straight in sections, but with offshore wind and that kind of energy, it’ll be good. Saturday morning still has clean cross-offshore wind and 1.1m swell (606 energy), but it’s a step down.
Then it all goes sideways. Sunday the 19th gets hammered by a big southerly storm – 3.5m waves with a 40 km/h onshore gale and massive energy (4515) – too big and too blown out. The wind eases a little in the afternoon, but it’s still lumpy. Monday through Thursday next week is all poor: onshore winds from the south and southeast, messy 1.0m to 1.3m swell. Not worth paddling out. By the 25th and 26th we get tiny but clean 0.3m to 0.5m groundswell from the south, but it’s really just a longboard or flat day.
Honestly, if you’re planning a session, focus on Friday the 17th and maybe Saturday the 18th morning. That Friday afternoon is the standout – clean offshore, shoulder-high groundswell with good energy. The rest of the outlook is mostly wind and waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri night, calm by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Fri 17 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 979 | 643 | 470 | 345 | 237 | 174 | 196 | 108 | 68 | 58 | 39 | 26 | 20 | 35 | 37 | 36 | 47 | 273 | 612 | 636 | 732 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 1:45AM1.89m | 2:19PM1.90m | 2:38AM1.86m | 3:12PM1.90m | 3:39AM1.84m | 4:14PM1.90m | 4:47AM1.84m | 5:25PM1.93m | 5:56AM1.87m | 6:35PM1.99m | 7:00AM1.91m | 7:34PM2.06m | 7:58AM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:10AM0.42m | 8:29PM0.54m | 9:01AM0.42m | 9:28PM0.56m | 10:01AM0.43m | 10:33PM0.58m | 11:06AM0.44m | 11:47PM0.59m | 12:10PM0.44m | 00:58AM0.57m | 1:10PM0.44m | 1:58AM0.54m | 2:07PM0.45m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — |
 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
Feels °C | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 979 | 643 | 470 | 345 | 237 | 174 | 196 | 108 | 68 | 58 | 39 | 26 | 20 | 35 | 37 | 36 | 47 | 273 | 612 | 636 | 732 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | SSE 12 | SSE 19 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | ENE 6 | ESE 8 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ESE 14 | ESE 10 | ESE 20 | S 16 | S 4 | S 5 |
| kJ | 48 | 27 | 73 | 211 | 123 | 105 | 72 | 40 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 19 | 41 | 20 | 3 | 5 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 16 | S 14 | S 10 | S 9 | S 7 | E 12 | NE 12 | S 6 | SSE 9 | NE 5 | SSE 12 | ENE 4 | S 9 | S 21 | NE 5 | ESE 12 | S 18 | — | S 16 | S 14 |
| kJ | 30 | 24 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 28 | 6 | — | 5 | 15 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | — | — | — | — | NNW 2 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 470 | 134 | 70 | 77 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 8 | 9 | 15 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 53 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 36 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 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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