Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 4 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 6 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, S swell with 6,248 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 6 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period with S 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 Thursday (Aug 06) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 2.0m and 12s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 6th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 5th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here for Sponge Bay. To be honest, it’s a rough start. The first couple of days are a write-off. Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th are dominated by a big, messy swell and strong onshore winds, so you’re better off doing something else entirely. The wait is on.
The first real glimmer of hope comes through on Friday morning the 7th. We’ve got a clean 5ft SE swell pushing in with a light offshore breeze out of the northwest. The water is sitting at 56°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there. The energy is moderate (554), and the swell period is a solid 10 seconds, so there’s a bit of push to it. By Friday afternoon, the swell drops a touch to 3ft from the SSE, but the period stretches out to a very long 16 seconds. That’s pure groundswell, and with a clean offshore wind, it’s going to be glassy. That Friday afternoon window is the standout of the whole outlook – the wave quality is expected to be very good.
Saturday the 8th keeps things surfable but not as exciting. Mornings are clean with 4ft SE swell and a 13-second period, but the energy is already dropping off. The afternoon is a bit smaller and more marginal. Sunday the 9th sees the energy drop further, with only small clean waves, it’s surfable but nothing to get excited about.
From Monday the 10th right through to the middle of the month, it’s a long stretch of poor conditions. The wind swings onshore, the swell stays small and weak, and the energy readings are in the low hundreds or even double digits. There’s a brief moment on Wednesday the 12th with a clean 4ft wave from the ESE, but the period is a weak 7 seconds, so it’s gutless. It’s really just a window of clean but ordinary surf.
The only other thing worth mentioning is way out on Wednesday the 19th. That’s over two weeks away, so don’t get your hopes up, but the models are hinting at a 10ft S swell with 12-second period. The energy is strong (3646), but for a beginner-friendly spot like Sponge Bay, that’s way too big. It’s only for experts, and even then, the wind is onshore, so it’ll be a mess. For now, lock in that Friday the 7th afternoon session – that’s the best you’re going to get.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Tue morning. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu morning, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the W by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SSE 15 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 16 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 491 | 2454 | 4585 | 6248 | 4443 | 2984 | 2196 | 846 | 420 | 420 | 407 | 788 | 464 | 330 | 242 | 137 | 123 | 118 | 140 | 119 | 100 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:00AM1.91m | 10:23PM1.98m | 10:42AM1.92m | 11:05PM1.95m | 11:28AM1.91m | 11:47PM1.92m | 12:16PM1.90m | 00:32AM1.88m | 1:05PM1.89m | 1:22AM1.83m | 1:58PM1.86m | 2:20AM1.79m | 2:55PM1.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:05PM0.52m | 4:41AM0.50m | 4:47PM0.51m | 5:24AM0.47m | 5:31PM0.52m | 6:09AM0.46m | 6:20PM0.54m | 6:56AM0.45m | 7:14PM0.57m | 7:47AM0.47m | 8:12PM0.60m | 8:44AM0.49m | 9:16PM0.63m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | |  | | |  | |  |  | |  | | | |  | |
 | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — |
 | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:22 | — | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — |
mm | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 3 | 9 |
Temp °C | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Feels °C | 1 | -3 | -4 | -2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 15 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 491 | 1396 | 2569 | 3199 | 2317 | 1510 | 860 | 677 | 420 | 420 | 281 | 788 | 464 | 330 | 242 | 137 | 108 | 84 | 140 | 119 | 100 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — | ESE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 18 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SE 16 | SE 16 | SSE 15 | SE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 18 | S 16 | E 12 |
| kJ | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 25 | 57 | 92 | 142 | 83 | 407 | 153 | 67 | 64 | 21 | 54 | 123 | 118 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | E 18 | NE 18 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | S 10 | SSE 10 | NE 14 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | SSE 15 | E 12 | — | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | S 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 12 | 19 | 151 | 51 | 154 | 8 | 149 | 43 | 21 | 3 | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | — | SSW 3 | S 4 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 302 | 2454 | 4585 | 6248 | 4443 | 2984 | 2196 | 846 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 3 | 11 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 98 | 118 | 125 | 138 | 290 | 53 | 5 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 46 | 97 |
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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