Sponge bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Sponge bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 13 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is
13.8° C
0.7° 

Sponge bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Sponge bay surf forecast from 13 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, S swell with 2,930 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 9s period with ESE 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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Sponge bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 12AM. 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 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 14th Jul)1.5ft (0.5m) 9s
Best Surf 9PM (Fri 17th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 15s
Most Powerful12AM (Tue 21st Jul)8ft (2.5m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.


G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s look at what’s coming up for Sponge Bay. It’s a beach and reef setup, beginner-friendly, fairly consistent, and it likes swell from the SSE. The water’s sitting around 57°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year – nothing weird there.

Honestly, it’s a slow start. The first few days are pretty ordinary. On Monday 13 July, there’s a tiny 3ft swell from the ESE with a 9-second period, and the energy is weak (141). The wind is offshore from the north, so it’s clean, but the waves are just too small and weak to get excited about. Tuesday morning 14 July drops to 1ft from the SSE with a long 12-second period but energy is barely there (63). Still clean, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a ride. The rest of that week stays small, with poor conditions and onshore or cross winds messing things up.

Now, the real standout comes on Friday morning 17 July. That’s the one. We’ve got a nice 5ft ESE swell rolling in with a long 16-second period, and the energy is pumping strong (1034). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the west, so it’ll be clean. This is groundswell, and on a beach and reef setup like Sponge Bay, those long periods can make the waves a bit straight, but with that size and direction, it’s going to be good. This is the best on offer – expect very good surf conditions. The afternoon turns poor as the wind swings onshore, so get out early.

Saturday 18 July morning is also a solid pick. Still 4ft from the ESE with a 14-second period, strong energy (1051), and the wind is light cross-offshore from the NNW. Clean again. The afternoon stays clean with a light offshore from the north (722 energy). That’s a full day of fun waves. Sunday 19 July goes downhill with strong onshore winds, so forget it.

After that, the second week gets messy. Monday 20 July sees a bigger 8ft S swell with a short 8-second period, but it’s onshore winds and the conditions are marginal. That’s more for experts if anything, but the wind is no good. Through the rest of the week, it’s a mix of onshore and cross-on winds, rain, and poor surf. There’s a bit of size around 5ft to 7ft but the wind is consistently from the east or southeast, making it choppy or lumpy. The energy is moderate to strong, but the quality just isn’t there. The last week really has nothing to offer.

So, to sum it up: Friday morning 17 July and Saturday 18 July are your best bets. Clean, solid groundswell, and good energy. The rest of the 16 days is mostly a write-off, so if you’re keen, plan for those two mornings.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SSW on Fri morning, fresh winds from the SSW by Sun morning).

Mon
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
4
3
3
1
0
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
ESE
9
0.5
ESE
9
0.3
SSE
12
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
11
0.4
ESE
10
0.5
E
13
0.6
ESE
15
0.5
ESE
17
1.2
ESE
16
1.4
ESE
16
1.6
ESE
16
1.6
ESE
15
1.3
ESE
14
1.3
ESE
14
1.2
ESE
14
1
ESE
13
0.7
SSE
18
2
S
11
2.4
S
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
90
42
29
32
34
40
33
86
172
162
779
1003
1184
1067
732
595
522
321
318
941
1184
Wind (km/h)
15
N
10
N
15
NNW
15
NNW
15
NW
15
NW
5
ESE
15
NW
20
NW
15
NW
10
W
10
W
20
SSW
10
WNW
10
NNW
10
N
15
WSW
35
SSW
30
S
20
SSW
15
SSW
Wind State
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
4:14PM1.90m
4:47AM1.84m
5:25PM1.93m
5:56AM1.87m
6:35PM1.99m
7:00AM1.91m
7:34PM2.06m
7:58AM1.95m
8:28PM2.11m
8:53AM1.99m
9:21PM2.12m
9:45AM2.01m
10:13PM2.11m
10:36AM2.00m
Low Tide
10:33PM0.58m
11:06AM0.44m
11:47PM0.59m
12:10PM0.44m
00:58AM0.57m
1:10PM0.44m
1:58AM0.54m
2:07PM0.45m
2:51AM0.53m
3:01PM0.47m
3:41AM0.52m
3:54PM0.50m
4:31AM0.53m
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:02
5:04
5:04
5:05
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
 mm
1
Temp °C
14
13
15
17
13
15
16
13
14
17
13
13
13
10
14
15
12
11
11
10
11
Feels °C
10
10
12
14
10
13
14
10
10
13
10
11
8
7
11
12
9
3
3
4
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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