
Surf Forecasts:
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 Type | Time (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 ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate 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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
319 | 505 | 603 | 584 | 449 | 344 | 317 | 244 | 206 | 162 | 214 | 220 | 167 | 205 | 327 | 764 | 919 | 803 | 1300 | 692 | 711 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | 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 | ||||||||
— | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | |
— | — | 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) | E 11 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | E 10 | E 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
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) | SSE 12 | SSE 13 | SSE 8 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | NE 7 | S 16 | S 15 | S 21 | SSE 19 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 17 |
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) | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 8 | N 11 | — | — | S 16 | NE 9 | S 16 | S 22 | S 13 | S 13 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSW 15 | S 14 | — | S 17 | S 16 |
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) | — | — | — | — | — | NE 4 | NNE 5 | NNE 7 | NNW 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 10 | S 7 | S 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | 32 | 47 | 244 | 4 | 35 | 92 | 394 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1300 | 104 | 422 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Live Wave Height (m)
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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.











