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Sponge bay Surf Forecast
/ Gisborne and Mahia (37 surf breaks) /
Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand
16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Thursday 14 May 2026 NZSTForecast update in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Sponge bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
16.1° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)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 (May 19) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. 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 2.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 15) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (May 20) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 19th May) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Tue 19th May) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 15th May) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thu 14 | Friday 15 | Saturday 16 | Sunday 17 | Monday 18 | Tuesday 19 | Wednesday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
S 12 | S 11 | S 9 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | |
1245 | 901 | 365 | 353 | 668 | 317 | 237 | 563 | 466 | 452 | 180 | 62 | 45 | 35 | 42 | 36 | 21 | 40 | 35 | 18 | 4 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | |
High Tide | 3:29PM1.90m | 3:49AM1.95m | 4:17PM1.97m | 4:39AM1.99m | 5:07PM2.04m | 5:30AM2.01m | 6:00PM2.08m | 6:21AM2.01m | 6:55PM2.10m | 7:17AM2.00m | 7:52PM2.11m | 8:17AM1.97m | 8:51PM2.09m | 9:19AM1.95m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:38PM0.53m | 10:08AM0.43m | 10:28PM0.48m | 10:57AM0.37m | 11:19PM0.45m | 11:48AM0.33m | 00:13AM0.45m | 12:39PM0.34m | 1:12AM0.47m | 1:34PM0.37m | 2:14AM0.50m | 2:30PM0.43m | 3:15AM0.54m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | |  |  | |  | | | |  | |  | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 |
 | 5:06 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:00 | — | 5:00 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 14 |
9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | SE 6 | E 5 | SE 9 | SE 8 | E 5 | ENE 6 |
 kJ | 344 | 80 | 232 | 184 | 668 | 317 | 237 | 47 | 47 | 71 | 106 | 62 | 45 | 35 | 42 | 33 | 14 | 40 | 35 | 4 | 8 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 16 | E 11 | SSE 5 | E 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 9 | E 5 | E 5 | SE 8 | SSE 6 |
| kJ | 94 | 138 | 66 | 353 | 37 | 27 | 36 | 158 | 115 | 103 | 39 | 37 | 33 | 33 | 38 | 36 | 21 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 11 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | SE 7 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | 15 | 14 | 17 | 30 | — | 37 | 121 | 33 | 32 | 17 | 53 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | S 9 | — | — | S 5 | SSE 5 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | E 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 1245 | 901 | 365 | — | — | 40 | 37 | 563 | 466 | 452 | 180 | — | — | — | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 10 | 10 | 118 | 44 | 42 | 118 | 42 | 3 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 36 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Sponge bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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