Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Issued: 11 pm 02 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
13.5° 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 2 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 10 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, SE swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 3,488 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 12s period with E 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 Friday (Jul 03) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. 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 4.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 10s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 05) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Fri 3rd Jul)4.5ft (1.3m) 12s
Best Surf 3AM (Fri 10th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 10s
Most Powerful 6AM (Fri 10th Jul)13ft (4.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Rusty here, same forecast, now in feet and Fahrenheit.

Sponge Bay wakes up with something worth paddling for on Friday, July 3rd – a nice steady run of clean waves for the beginner or longboard crowd. Swell runs 4 to 5 ft from the east with a 12-second interval, real groundswell energy in the water (combined energy around 592 to 641). Wind is light and cross-off all day, so the surface is smooth. It’s not gonna blow your mind, but for a beach and reef setup, this is about as fun and mellow as it gets. Water temp is about normal for the time of year, nothing unusual.

Saturday the 4th is more of the same – east swell 4 ft, a bit shorter period at 11 seconds, still with a gentle cross-off that keeps things clean. Combined energy drops to 347 to 453, but still enough to push you along. Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th are smaller, with 3 to 4 ft swell and period down to 9 or 10 seconds, but winds stay light and offshore or cross-off. You can get a wave, but it’s pretty ordinary.

Tuesday the 7th is a wash. Morning is glassy but the swell is weak and the energy is marginal. By afternoon the wind goes onshore and it’s messy. Skip it.

Now, Wednesday the 8th is the first real highlight – but only in the morning. Swell jumps to 7 ft from the ESE at 10 seconds, combined energy 1068. That’s proper power. The wind is glassy, dead calm, from the WSW. From dawn to lunch, experienced surfers are gonna have a ball. It’s a little raw with that period, but glassy conditions on a beach and reef setup mean some clean, punchy walls. Crowds are sometimes a factor, but at that size, most beginners will stay out. Afternoon is ruined by onshore wind, so get it while it’s good.

From Thursday the 9th through Sunday the 12th, strong southerly winds blow – 25 to 28 mph – and it’s onshore or cross-onshore the whole time. Swell sticks around 5 to 10 ft, but the wind destroys the surface. This is kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing. The energy numbers are high, especially on the 10th (2196), but the quality is zero.

Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th settle down. A clean little window with east swell around 4 to 5 ft, period 10 to 11 seconds, and light cross-off winds. Combined energy is moderate at 446 to 551. Good for a cruise, nothing heavy.

Then the big one: Wednesday, July 15th. This is the best day across the whole outlook. Swell hits 7 to 7 ft from the ESE and SE, with a very long period of 15 to 16 seconds. That’s deep ocean energy, combined at 2068 to 2232. Winds are light and cross-off in the morning, gentle cross-off in the afternoon. This swell will produce long, lined-up waves – though at a beach break, it might run a bit straight, so pick your bank. This is for experienced surfers only; 7 ft with that period moves a lot of water. Crowds are possible, but the quality will be worth it.

Thursday the 16th is for experts only. Morning sees a massive 10 ft swell from the ESE at 14 seconds, light cross-off wind, combined energy 2992 – but the swell is simply too big for this break and will be dangerous or closing out. Afternoon drops to 8 ft, still big, but wind goes glassy from the NNE. That window could be special for a handful of locals.

Friday the 17th holds size, 8 to 8 ft with a 12-second period, combined energy around 2829 to 2932. Clean in the morning with light offshore wind, but afternoon gets a moderate cross-shore breeze that messes it up. Saturday the 18th is a total loss with 28 mph south winds and cross-on slop.

So, circling back: Wednesday morning July 8th for a glassy, punchy mid-size session, and Wednesday July 15th for the long-period groundswell of the month. Beginners, hit that first weekend in July. Experts, lock in the 15th – but keep an eye on the wind as it gets closer.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thu
9
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
0
2
3
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)
1.2
E
11
1.3
E
12
1.4
E
12
1.4
E
12
1.3
E
12
1.2
E
11
1.2
E
11
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
0.9
E
10
1
E
10
1.2
E
9
1.1
E
8
1.1
E
9
1.3
E
10
1.8
E
11
2.1
ESE
10
2
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
319
505
603
584
449
344
317
244
206
162
214
220
167
205
327
764
919
803
1300
692
711
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
10
NW
10
ENE
15
NW
15
NNW
15
NNE
15
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
NW
10
N
15
NE
10
NNW
5
W
10
S
10
W
5
WSW
20
SSW
35
S
40
S
45
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross
on
cross
glassy
on
on
on
on
High Tide
8:18AM1.74m
8:49PM1.83m
9:04AM1.78m
9:34PM1.87m
9:47AM1.80m
10:18PM1.91m
10:29AM1.82m
10:59PM1.93m
11:12AM1.84m
11:39PM1.94m
11:56AM1.85m
00:18AM1.93m
12:42PM1.87m
Low Tide
2:23AM0.75m
2:26PM0.68m
3:08AM0.71m
3:12PM0.65m
3:52AM0.67m
3:55PM0.62m
4:35AM0.64m
4:37PM0.59m
5:17AM0.59m
5:18PM0.57m
5:59AM0.54m
6:00PM0.55m
6:40AM0.49m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:24
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:57
4:58
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
 mm
10
2
10
12
5
Temp °C
11
11
12
11
12
15
12
13
15
11
15
12
11
12
12
11
12
12
13
13
13
Feels °C
8
9
9
7
8
11
10
10
14
8
11
9
9
10
9
8
9
8
7
6
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
E
11
1.3
E
12
1.4
E
12
1.4
E
12
1.3
E
12
1.2
E
11
1.2
E
11
1.1
E
10
1
E
10
0.9
E
10
1
E
10
1.2
E
9
1.1
E
8
1.1
E
9
1.3
E
10
1.8
E
11
2.1
ESE
10
2
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
Energy kJ
319
505
603
584
449
344
317
244
206
162
214
220
167
205
327
764
919
803
928
692
711
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SSE
12
0.3
SSE
13
0.3
SSE
8
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
12
0.1
S
12
0.9
NE
7
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
21
0.3
SSE
19
0.6
S
9
0.8
SSE
10
0.6
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
15
0.4
SSE
14
0.3
SSE
13
0.3
SSE
13
0.3
SSE
17
Energy kJ
89
33
11
4
4
3
3
3
75
5
4
9
70
64
139
74
74
69
35
32
57
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
12
0.1
S
8
0.1
N
11
0.1
S
16
0.1
NE
9
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
22
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
13
0.3
SSE
17
0.3
SSE
16
0.3
SSE
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.5
S
14
0.2
S
17
0.3
S
16
Energy kJ
82
54
27
1
2
5
3
5
9
3
3
57
51
49
75
104
22
47
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
NE
4
0.9
NNE
5
1.7
NNE
7
0.4
NNW
3
0.7
NE
6
1.1
NE
6
1.7
ENE
8
2.5
ESE
10
1
S
7
1.8
S
8
Energy kJ
32
47
244
4
35
92
394
1300
104
422
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
4
4
3
2
Distance (km)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
36
1
0
42
50
57
118
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
4
4
5
7
5
6
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
5
9
5
7
5
5
9
7
7
6
9
8
6
6
7
9
7
7
9
  • 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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