Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 2,918 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.9m and 12s. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, checkin' in from the coast. Let's get into it.
Right off the bat, we're looking at a bit of a slow start. The first real swell window doesn't open up until the tail end of Monday, August 31st, and even then it's a bit of a tease. The water is sitting at 55°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don't forget the extra rubber.
The first standout is Wednesday afternoon, September 2nd at Sponge Bay. This is where it all comes together. We've got a solid 6ft of SSE groundswell rumbling in with a very long 17-second period, packing a heap of punch – the combined swell energy is a strong 1938. The wind is dead flat – glassy as a mirror. This is your window for some clean, long-period lines. For the experienced crew, this is the pick of the first week. The swell direction is coming straight from the SSE, which is exactly what this break wants to see.
The rest of the first week is pretty ordinary. We get some small clean waves on Thursday morning (September 3rd) with 4ft and a cross-off breeze, but the energy is weak (434). After that, it drops right off into tiny, weak surf for days.
Now, hold onto your boards, because the second week has a monster on the horizon. Friday, September 11th morning is a watch-out. The forecast is showing a massive 13ft SSE groundswell with a combined energy of 5736 – that's some serious, heavy water. The wind is glassy, so the surface will be clean, but this is straight-up big-wave territory. This is expert-only, and frankly, for the average punter at Sponge Bay, it's going to be too big and dangerous. It's more of a spectacle than a session.
After that, the swell backs off again, but it gets messy with onshore winds and rain for the next few days. We get a brief, tiny window of clean surf on the very last day of the forecast, Tuesday, September 15th afternoon, with a 3ft SSE swell and a 16-second period, offering a clean, rideable wave but nothing to get overly excited about.
So, for the whole 16-day run, the morning of Wednesday, September 2nd is your clear winner: glassy, groundswell, and clean. Keep an eye on that Friday the 11th session if you've got the nerve and the quiver for it, but it's a beast.
Stay wet, stay salty.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | S 12 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | S 15 | S 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3313 | 2310 | 1161 | 2035 | 1023 | 1938 | 970 | 427 | 261 | 123 | 68 | 42 | 9 | 173 | 55 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 23 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:46AM1.99m | 9:04PM2.02m | 9:29AM2.00m | 9:48PM1.98m | 10:14AM1.99m | 10:35PM1.94m | 11:03AM1.96m | 11:23PM1.89m | 11:55AM1.92m | 00:14AM1.84m | 12:49PM1.88m | 1:09AM1.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:42AM0.47m | 2:52PM0.48m | 3:22AM0.44m | 3:36PM0.48m | 4:05AM0.44m | 4:22PM0.50m | 4:53AM0.45m | 5:11PM0.54m | 5:44AM0.47m | 6:05PM0.58m | 6:37AM0.51m | 7:03PM0.63m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 14 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 8 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 17 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 11 | SSE 9 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 731 | 1297 | 1161 | 2035 | 1023 | 1938 | 970 | 427 | 261 | 123 | 68 | 42 | 9 | 24 | 55 | 11 | 25 | 17 | 9 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 18 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 5 | S 15 | S 15 | SSE 11 | S 6 | S 15 | SSE 11 |
| kJ | 4 | 11 | 4 | 14 | 438 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 25 | 2 | 19 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | — | SE 11 | NE 11 | E 9 | — | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 12 | — | S 18 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 8 | S 14 | S 5 | S 17 |
| kJ | 4 | — | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | — | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 1 | 23 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | S 12 | — | — | — | NNE 9 | — | NW 2 | — | — | — | NW 2 | — | SSW 7 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — |
| kJ | 3313 | 2310 | — | — | — | 32 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 173 | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 42 | 115 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 50 | 215 | 46 | 3 | 8 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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