Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Issued: 11 pm 23 Jun 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
13.8° C

1.3°C colder than average for this time of year

Sponge bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Sponge bay surf forecast from 23 Jun 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 27 Jun, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 1 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, ESE swell with 1,789 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 24 Jun, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 (Jun 24) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 01) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 9s period and expected on Thursday (Jun 25) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Wed 24th Jun)2.5ft (0.8m) 13s
Best Surf 3AM (Sat 27th Jun)6.5ft (2.0m) 11s
Most Powerful12AM (Wed 1st Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Fri afternoon). Mainly strong winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 36mm), heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WNW on Sat morning, strong winds from the S by Sun night).

Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sunday
28
Monday
29
Tue
30
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSE
14
0.8
SSE
13
0.7
SSE
14
0.5
SSE
13
0.4
SSE
14
1.5
E
9
1.6
S
9
3
S
10
1.6
SSE
11
2
E
11
1.9
E
11
1.7
E
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
1.6
E
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.5
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.9
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
347
183
173
101
65
375
421
1684
582
951
846
632
598
482
541
584
449
450
377
702
1249
Wind (km/h)
20
NNE
20
NNE
30
NNE
40
NNE
10
WNW
25
SSW
35
SSW
30
S
25
SW
15
W
10
WNW
25
SW
30
SSW
25
SSW
25
SSW
25
SSW
40
S
30
S
30
S
35
SSE
35
S
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
1:09AM2.00m
1:41PM1.90m
1:53AM1.93m
2:27PM1.87m
2:37AM1.85m
3:11PM1.82m
3:22AM1.78m
3:55PM1.77m
4:08AM1.72m
4:43PM1.73m
4:57AM1.67m
5:37PM1.71m
5:47AM1.66m
Low Tide
7:28AM0.58m
7:45PM0.68m
8:12AM0.59m
8:34PM0.70m
8:54AM0.60m
9:20PM0.73m
9:37AM0.63m
10:07PM0.76m
10:23AM0.65m
10:55PM0.78m
11:12AM0.68m
11:49PM0.80m
12:01PM0.69m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
mod rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
light rain
heavy rain
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:52
4:53
4:53
4:53
4:54
4:54
4:55
 mm
6
2
3
5
5
15
1
3
3
2
21
4
2
7
2
2
Temp °C
13
15
15
15
14
13
14
13
11
11
14
15
14
14
14
13
13
13
13
12
11
Feels °C
9
9
9
8
13
8
10
7
6
6
12
11
9
10
10
8
5
6
7
4
3
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
SSE
14
0.8
SSE
13
0.7
SSE
14
0.5
SSE
13
1.8
ENE
9
1.5
E
9
1.1
E
9
2.1
SSE
10
1.7
E
10
2
E
11
1.9
E
11
1.7
E
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
1.6
E
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.5
E
10
1.5
E
10
1.4
E
10
1.9
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
Energy kJ
347
183
173
101
540
375
189
838
546
951
846
632
598
482
541
584
449
450
377
702
800
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
ENE
5
0.7
ENE
6
0.4
SSE
14
0.3
SSE
14
0.6
E
11
1.4
E
10
1.6
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
11
0.7
SSE
10
0.6
SSE
9
0.8
SSE
17
0.7
SSE
15
0.9
SSE
17
0.8
SSE
14
0.9
SSE
6
0.4
SSE
12
1.2
SSE
6
0.6
SSE
16
0.7
SSE
15
Energy kJ
17
34
65
36
81
362
582
210
102
68
394
237
409
229
66
52
113
203
237
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
10
1.1
E
12
0.1
S
23
0.3
SSE
20
0.4
SSE
9
0.3
SSE
8
0.6
S
7
0.5
SSE
12
0.3
SSE
11
0.3
S
10
Energy kJ
2
336
10
78
26
13
39
87
25
18
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
NE
5
1.3
NE
6
1.1
ENE
7
1.5
ENE
8
3
NE
9
1.6
S
9
3
S
10
0.9
SSW
9
0.7
S
8
0.7
SSW
7
0.8
SSW
6
1.2
S
6
1.3
SSE
7
1.6
SSE
7
1.3
SSE
7
2.5
ESE
10
Energy kJ
43
103
99
277
1651
421
1684
144
61
57
53
109
137
261
181
1249
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
1
1
4
3
1
3
2
3
4
1
2
4
4
2
3
2
2
3
Distance (km)
1
0
88
317
0
36
68
97
43
5
0
42
113
43
53
68
118
121
118
118
121
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
4
4
4
4
3
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
5
4
4
5
4
4
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
8
9
8
5
5
5
5
6
5
5
5
5
5
9
8
5
6
6
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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