Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 19 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 5,529 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period with SSW 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 Monday (Sep 21) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 2.5m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 3AM. 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 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun morning, light winds from the NW by Mon morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, calm by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | Friday 25 | Saturday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | SSE 9 | S 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | SSE 12 | SE 7 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 85 | 741 | 3527 | 1822 | 816 | 260 | 117 | 31 | 362 | 143 | 142 | 343 | 381 | 346 | 199 | 250 | 194 | 135 | 133 | 129 | 125 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:25PM1.75m | 00:45AM1.67m | 1:14PM1.73m | 1:39AM1.65m | 2:07PM1.72m | 2:43AM1.66m | 3:11PM1.74m | 3:49AM1.71m | 4:18PM1.80m | 4:41AM1.78m | 5:08PM1.88m | 5:25AM1.86m | 5:49PM1.95m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:47PM0.77m | 7:06AM0.81m | 7:43PM0.79m | 7:59AM0.83m | 8:41PM0.79m | 8:59AM0.81m | 9:39PM0.76m | 9:59AM0.75m | 10:33PM0.71m | 10:49AM0.67m | 11:20PM0.64m | 11:32AM0.60m | 00:03AM0.56m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | — | 6:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 6 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | SSE 16 | SSE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SE 10 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 12 |
| kJ | 66 | 25 | 1633 | 1822 | 816 | 260 | 51 | 31 | 220 | 143 | 51 | 180 | 149 | 148 | 199 | 250 | 194 | 113 | 71 | 48 | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | NE 10 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | ESE 11 | S 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 12 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 85 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 30 | 105 | 117 | 27 | 30 | 54 | 12 | 116 | 67 | 50 | 41 | 99 | 82 | 135 | 133 | 129 | 83 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | — | — | — | ENE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | — | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 16 | S 14 | SSE 13 | — |
| kJ | 10 | — | — | — | 9 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | — | 12 | 20 | 9 | 10 | 44 | 74 | 81 | 103 | 96 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 3 | SSE 9 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | SSE 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | — |
| kJ | 4 | 741 | 3527 | — | — | — | — | — | 362 | — | 142 | 343 | 381 | 346 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 454 | 103 | 53 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 112 | 42 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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