Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with 2,715 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 12s 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. 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 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 07) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what Sponge Bay is serving up over the next couple of weeks.
The pattern is a slow start, then a few clean windows, and one real standout session in the second week. The water’s at 56° right now, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget a good wetsuit.
The first few days are a bust. Friday the 31st of July has a tiny 2ft south-east swell, but the wind is messy and conditions are poor. Saturday the 1st of August is a no-go with a building 7ft to 10ft south-west swell, but it’s blown out by a fresh onshore breeze. That’s a big, lumpy mess.
Sunday the 2nd of August is where things start to turn. The morning has a clean 6ft south-south-east swell with a light offshore wind from the west-north-west. The energy is moderate (1017), and the waves should be clean and lined up. The afternoon dips a bit with a cross-on wind, but the morning is the pick of the first few days.
Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are a mixed bag. Monday morning has a clean 4ft south-south-east swell, but it’s small and the energy is weak (306). Tuesday brings a long-period 4ft south-south-east swell (15 seconds), but it’s cross-on and choppy. That long period is a tease, but the wind ruins it.
Wednesday the 5th of August morning has a decent 7ft south-south-east swell with a 15-second period and a light cross-shore wind. The energy is strong (1847), and while it’s not perfect, it’s surfable. Still, the conditions are only marginal.
Now, the real standout. Monday the 10th of August morning. This is the one to circle. A 8ft south-east swell, 9-second period, with a moderate offshore wind from the north. The energy is strong (1465), and the conditions are clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The 8ft is right on the limit for most, but the offshore wind will keep it clean and make it a solid session.
Tuesday the 11th of August is also a big one, but there’s a catch. The morning has a 8ft south-south-east swell with offshore wind – excellent for experienced surfers again. But the afternoon sees a 10ft east-south-east swell with a 12-second period and offshore wind. The energy is very strong (3156), but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. For the experts, the morning session is the go. The afternoon is for a spectator sport.
After that, the swell fades. Wednesday the 12th of August has a 7ft east-south-east swell with offshore wind, but it’s not as clean. By Thursday the 13th, it’s back to small, weak 4ft waves, and the following weekend, from the 14th of August, everything goes flat and blown out with strong onshore winds. Nothing to see there.
So, the best on offer is Monday the 10th of August morning at Sponge Bay. It’s a clean, solid 8ft south-east swell with offshore wind. The Tuesday morning session on the 11th is also a great call, but it’s a touch bigger. Get on it, because the second week dies off fast.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 128 | 95 | 778 | 2062 | 2715 | 952 | 681 | 439 | 294 | 178 | 237 | 580 | 2122 | 2355 | 1847 | 1376 | 809 | 545 | 449 | 283 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | cross | on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:44PM1.87m | 7:57AM1.82m | 8:24PM1.93m | 8:38AM1.87m | 9:03PM1.97m | 9:19AM1.89m | 9:43PM1.98m | 10:00AM1.91m | 10:23PM1.98m | 10:42AM1.92m | 11:05PM1.95m | 11:28AM1.91m | 11:47PM1.92m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:00AM0.69m | 2:02PM0.60m | 2:41AM0.63m | 2:43PM0.56m | 3:20AM0.58m | 3:24PM0.54m | 4:00AM0.54m | 4:05PM0.52m | 4:41AM0.50m | 4:47PM0.51m | 5:24AM0.47m | 5:31PM0.52m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — |
 | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 12 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
Feels °C | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 9 | SSE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 128 | 95 | 366 | 1121 | 1756 | 952 | 681 | 439 | 294 | 178 | 237 | 580 | 2122 | 2355 | 1847 | 1376 | 809 | 545 | 449 | 283 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SE 16 | E 12 | E 17 | E 16 | SE 14 | SE 15 | SE 12 | S 22 | SE 12 | SSE 18 | SSE 6 | E 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | — | E 18 | E 10 | E 10 |
| kJ | 9 | 38 | 71 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 55 | 40 | 9 | 39 | 34 | 82 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | — | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | NNE 5 | SE 16 | ENE 17 | ENE 16 | ENE 16 | SE 12 | ENE 14 | E 13 | SSE 20 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | SE 18 | E 18 | NE 11 | NNE 10 | NNE 5 |
| kJ | 16 | 3 | 64 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 55 | 20 | 3 | 38 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 12 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 2 | W 3 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 13 | — | — | — | NW 3 | — | SSW 6 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 3 |
| kJ | 1 | 4 | 778 | 2062 | 2715 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 14 | 198 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 42 | 68 | 53 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 10 | 88 | 10 | 3 | 43 | 0 | 1 | 43 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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