
Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with 3,965 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, grab your wetties, let’s see what Sponge Bay has cookin’ over the next couple of weeks. Rusty here.
First up, the outlook is a bit of a slow burner, with very little to write home about for the first week. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, so no shock there, but the lack of decent swell and clean wind makes for a frustrating start.
We kick off on Wednesday, 9th September, with small, weak SE swell. Waves are around 4 ft but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s pretty gutless. It’s clean enough in the morning with a light cross-off breeze, but the energy is just moderate (212). Honestly, it’s surfable but very ordinary. The afternoon gets worse with a stronger NE wind chopping things up.
Thursday, 10th September, the swell drops off a cliff. Thursday morning is a write-off with only 2 ft of weak, short-period junk, and the wind is up. The afternoon goes glassy but the swell is barely 2 ft – you’d be chasing ripples, mate. Not worth paddling out.
Friday, 11th September, sees a weird spike in energy (216 and 228) from a couple of different swells, but the morning is ruined by onshore wind and rain. The afternoon goes glassy with a tiny 1 ft swell but a long 18-second period – that’s proper groundswell, but so small you’ll be bobbing around. Not surfable.
The rest of the first week and into the second is a drought. Saturday and Sunday are a complete mess with strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy seas. The swell jumps to 6 ft on Sunday morning but with a 25 km/h cross-shore wind, it’s just a bumpy mess. Definitely look more like a kite day than a paddle day.
The standout by far is Monday, 14th September. Morning brings a clean 5 ft SE swell with a lovely 13-second period, combined energy is solid (653) and the wind is light offshore from the north. This is the best window in the whole forecast – clean lines, decent push, and the swell is manageable for most. This is the one to circle.
Tuesday, 15th September, is a step down. Swell drops to 3 ft and the energy fades (227). It’s clean but very weak.
The other big one to watch is Tuesday, 22nd September. The morning glass-off with an 12 ft S swell (10 sec period) and massive energy (3643). But Rusty has to be honest here – that’s way too big for Sponge Bay. The file says it’s predicted to be too big for this break. Only absolute experts, if anyone, should even consider it. It’s a beast.
After that, Wednesday, 23rd September, cleans up nicely with a 4 ft SSE swell, good period (11 sec), and light offshore wind. That’s a nice, solid session for the average surfer.
So, to wrap it up: if you’re keen, save your energy for Monday, 14th September, for the best all-round conditions. The 22nd is a monster, but it’s a dangerous one. The rest of the time? A lot of flat spells and onshore junk. It’s a lean run, but forecasts can change.
Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sat morning, calm by Sun night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SSE 15 | S 6 | SSE 18 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | S 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
291 | 206 | 151 | 110 | 54 | 45 | 47 | 81 | 113 | 102 | 97 | 206 | 1550 | 1447 | 2534 | 943 | 648 | 624 | 395 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | on | glassy | off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:33AM1.75m | 4:11PM1.86m | 4:48AM1.81m | 5:18PM1.94m | 5:44AM1.88m | 6:09PM2.01m | 6:33AM1.95m | 6:53PM2.05m | 7:17AM1.99m | 7:34PM2.05m | 8:00AM2.01m | 8:14PM2.02m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:17PM0.66m | 9:47AM0.55m | 10:31PM0.62m | 10:55AM0.51m | 11:34PM0.55m | 11:50AM0.46m | 00:26AM0.48m | 12:37PM0.42m | 1:10AM0.44m | 1:23PM0.42m | 1:52AM0.42m | 2:08PM0.44m | 2:32AM0.43m | ||||||
— | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 |
291 | 206 | 151 | 110 | 54 | 45 | 27 | 26 | 66 | 51 | 97 | 206 | 1550 | 1447 | 1591 | 943 | 648 | 624 | 395 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | S 9 | S 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SSE 15 | SSE 19 | SE 7 | SSE 18 | SE 6 | E 8 | E 13 | E 12 | E 12 | ENE 12 | E 9 | ENE 3 | ENE 5 |
4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 47 | 73 | 49 | 102 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | E 15 | E 15 | E 14 | S 8 | E 14 | ENE 8 | SSE 14 | SSE 18 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 13 | — | ENE 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | E 9 | E 11 |
6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 113 | 6 | 7 | 3 | — | 14 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 2 | NW 3 | — | — | S 6 | — | — | S 6 | S 6 | — | — | S 16 | — | — | NE 4 | — |
— | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 81 | — | — | 17 | 108 | — | — | 2534 | — | — | 10 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 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.










