Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 16s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,956 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. 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 2.3m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed afternoon, light winds from the E by Fri morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Sun morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | SSE 15 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 13 | S 15 | S 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2804 | 811 | 573 | 559 | 160 | 211 | 568 | 253 | 164 | 153 | 105 | 54 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 139 | 112 | 112 | 142 | 174 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:06PM1.95m | 11:32AM1.90m | 11:48PM1.87m | 12:17PM1.84m | 00:30AM1.79m | 1:01PM1.78m | 1:14AM1.71m | 1:46PM1.73m | 2:05AM1.65m | 2:36PM1.70m | 3:08AM1.63m | 3:41PM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:56PM0.58m | 5:24AM0.56m | 5:42PM0.65m | 6:09AM0.62m | 6:28PM0.72m | 6:53AM0.69m | 7:17PM0.77m | 7:38AM0.75m | 8:09PM0.81m | 8:27AM0.80m | 9:07PM0.83m | 9:27AM0.82m | 10:10PM0.83m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — |
 | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 16 |
Feels °C | 1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 11 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 10 | SSE 16 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 13 | S 15 | S 15 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 |
| kJ | 1284 | 580 | 490 | 252 | 160 | 160 | 568 | 253 | 164 | 153 | 105 | 54 | 25 | 33 | 33 | 139 | 112 | 112 | 142 | 174 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 9 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | SSE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 10 | S 5 | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 355 | 811 | 189 | 177 | 124 | 108 | 123 | 61 | 30 | 18 | 32 | 34 | 33 | 9 | 2 | 35 | 15 | 34 | 32 | 15 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | — | — | SSE 13 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | S 16 | SE 16 | E 15 | E 14 | SE 9 | — | NE 4 | — | SSE 9 | S 6 | ESE 13 | — | SE 13 | — |
| kJ | 424 | — | — | 98 | 58 | 211 | 317 | 67 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 8 | 3 | 34 | — | 43 | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | SSW 10 | S 8 | S 8 | — | — | — | N 2 | NW 3 | — | NW 2 | — | WNW 2 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2804 | 586 | 573 | 559 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 121 | 10 | 42 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Sponge bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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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