Surf Forecasts:
Sponge bay surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 16s period, ESE swell with 1,154 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 15 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 11s 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 Wednesday (Jul 15) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 14s. 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 1.6m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 16s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 15th Jul) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Sponge bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, let's talk about Sponge Bay. It’s been pretty flat and quiet for a stretch here, so don’t get your hopes up for the next few days.
Starting off Tuesday 14 July, it’s tiny – 0.4m ESE swell with a short 10-second period. Wind is a clean offshore from the north, but the wave energy is super weak (46). Barely a ripple.
Wednesday 15 July: same story. 0.4m then 0.3m, clean but no power. Combined energy at 42 and 40.
Thursday 16 July: a little bump to 0.6m and then 0.7m, with a very long 18-second period in the afternoon. Energy is 363 – still weak. That long period will make it fat and straight at this beach and reef setup. Long waits between sets.
Friday 17 July morning is the first real good window. Swell hits 1.4m from the ESE, 16-second period, combined energy at 1038 (moderate). Winds are light and cross-off from the WNW – clean. Chest to head high, but that long period might make it close out a bit. The afternoon turns onshore from the SSE at 15 km/h, with 1.6m – messy, better for kites.
Saturday 18 July morning: still solid 1.3m ESE, 14 seconds, combined energy 940, clean cross-off NW wind. Good but not great. Afternoon gets choppy.
Sunday 19 July: blown out with strong southerly onshore winds at 30 km/h. Forget it.
Monday 20 July: poor. Tuesday 21 July: same – cross-onshore and messy.
Wednesday 22 July morning: a little breather – 0.8m SSE, 14 seconds, light WNW offshore, clean, combined energy 342. Small but clean fun.
From Thursday 23 July to Saturday 25 July: tiny 0.4m to 0.8m, mostly clean mornings but low energy (55 to 269). Not much.
Sunday 26 July and Monday 27 July: poor again.
The standout is Tuesday 28 July morning. Swell jumps to 1.8m from the ESE, 12-second period, combined energy at 1010, and light offshore NW wind. Head-high plus and clean – the best of the whole 16 days. Wednesday 29 July morning is also excellent: 1.5m ESE, 11 seconds, offshore NW wind, combined energy 740. Clean and consistent.
So, the pick is Tuesday 28 July morning – 1.8m ESE, offshore, clean. Wednesday 29 July morning is the backup.
Water temp on 14 July is 14°C, which is about 0.9°C colder than average – a bit chilly but nothing wild.
Crowds at Sponge Bay can show up sometimes, so on those good days, you won’t be alone.
That’s the rundown. A couple of solid days in there, but a lot of waiting.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tue 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 18 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 23 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | S 11 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 32 | 34 | 40 | 20 | 86 | 172 | 270 | 779 | 1003 | 1154 | 949 | 742 | 612 | 705 | 949 | 662 | 341 | 566 | 525 | 794 | 553 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 11:02PM2.08m | 11:25AM1.98m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:45PM0.54m | 5:19AM0.54m | ||||||||
 |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |  |  | |  | |  |  | | |
 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 |
 | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | 5:08 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 13 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 18 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SSE 19 | SSE 18 | SSE 6 | SE 6 | SSE 15 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 |
| kJ | 32 | 34 | 40 | 20 | 86 | 172 | 270 | 779 | 1003 | 1154 | 949 | 742 | 612 | 506 | 949 | 662 | 126 | 78 | 525 | 794 | 553 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | E 12 | NE 4 | ESE 12 | S 19 | S 15 | E 13 | S 16 | S 6 | SSE 15 | SSE 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 23 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SSE 16 | SSE 15 | SSE 6 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 |
| kJ | 5 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 87 | 20 | 16 | 308 | 767 | 198 | 130 | 705 | 326 | 261 | 341 | 292 | 60 | 143 | 97 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 12 | NNE 4 | S 9 | ESE 7 | S 16 | S 18 | S 18 | — | S 15 | SSW 18 | — | — | S 24 | SSE 9 | SSE 6 | — | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | — | — |
| kJ | 14 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | — | 19 | 368 | — | — | 12 | 67 | 60 | — | 233 | 161 | 158 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 6 | SSE 6 | S 7 | S 11 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 126 | 139 | 266 | 566 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 68 | 121 | 42 | 42 | 3 | 42 | 3 |
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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