Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 18 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 5,876 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 19 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 12s 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 Saturday (Sep 19) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s. 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 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Monday (Sep 21) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Fri night, strong winds from the SW by Sun morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 6°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the E on Tue afternoon, strong winds from the S by Thu morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SSE 16 | S 14 | ESE 11 | SSE 8 | S 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SSE 12 | S 7 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 166 | 174 | 350 | 203 | 68 | 445 | 3613 | 1354 | 711 | 265 | 382 | 123 | 328 | 184 | 217 | 809 | 709 | 901 | 249 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:10PM1.78m | 11:39AM1.79m | 11:56PM1.72m | 12:25PM1.75m | 00:45AM1.67m | 1:14PM1.73m | 1:39AM1.65m | 2:07PM1.72m | 2:43AM1.66m | 3:11PM1.74m | 3:49AM1.71m | 4:18PM1.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:30AM0.69m | 5:56PM0.73m | 6:17AM0.76m | 6:47PM0.77m | 7:06AM0.81m | 7:43PM0.79m | 7:59AM0.83m | 8:41PM0.79m | 8:59AM0.81m | 9:39PM0.76m | 9:59AM0.75m | 10:33PM0.71m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 13 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | SSE 16 | S 14 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 12 | SSE 11 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 166 | 174 | 350 | 203 | 68 | 35 | 1901 | 1354 | 711 | 265 | 382 | 123 | 210 | 184 | 126 | 446 | 355 | 484 | 249 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 16 | SE 11 | ENE 10 | NE 10 | SSE 14 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | E 15 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 12 | 16 | 109 | 107 | 57 | 26 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 154 | 34 | 29 | 60 | 89 | 90 | 81 | 44 | 4 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | — | NE 9 | E 13 | SE 14 | SE 10 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — | E 16 | — | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 52 | 75 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 52 | — | 3 | 3 | 7 | 33 | 49 | 13 | 12 | 12 | — | 5 | — | 35 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 4 | — | WNW 3 | SW 4 | SSE 8 | S 11 | — | NE 2 | — | — | — | S 7 | — | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | — |
| kJ | 10 | 3 | — | 2 | 11 | 445 | 3613 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 328 | — | 217 | 809 | 709 | 901 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 110 | 98 | 53 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 53 | 1 | 57 | 112 | 125 | 333 | 42 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
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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