Surf Breaks
New Zealand (466)
Gisborne and Mahia (37)
Sponge bay

Lat Long: 38.70° S 178.06° E

Sponge bay Surf Photo: 'Empty right reef' by Rob Davies

Issued: 11 pm 18 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in hr min

Today's Sponge bay sea temperature is

13.7°C

0.4°

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

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Photos (2)

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3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SSE	SSW		SSE	ENE
	9 s	glass		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 February at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SSE	SSE		SSE	ENE
	9 s	glass		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 February at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SSE	ESE		SSE	ENE
	9 s	cross- on		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 February at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	E		SSE	ENE
	9 s	cross		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 February at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	NE		SSE	ENE
	9 s	cross- off		10 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 8 February at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	NNE		SE	ENE
	9 s	off		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	N		SE	ENE
	9 s	off		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	NNW		SE	ENE
	9 s	glass		9 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	NW		SE	ENE
	9 s	glass		9 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	ESE		SE	ENE
	9 s	glass		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 12 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	E	E	SE	ENE
	9 s	cross	2 s	9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 3 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	SE	NE	E	SE	ENE
	9 s	cross- off	3 s	9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 6 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	ESE	NE	NE	SE	ENE
	9 s	cross- off	3 s	9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 9 February at 9 pm

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	ESE	NNE		SE	ENE
	9 s	off		9 s	9 s

Open ocean wave model on 10 February at 12 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	ESE	N	NNE	SE	ENE
	9 s	glass	3 s	9 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 10 February at 3 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	ESE	ENE	NE	SE	ENE
	9 s	cross- off	3 s	9 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 10 February at 6 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

3 hours earlier	Peak Waves	Wind	Wind Waves	Swell 1	Swell 2	3 hours later
	ESE	ENE		SE	ENE
	9 s	cross- off		9 s	10 s

Open ocean wave model on 10 February at 9 am

Forecast wind and swell just offshore from Sponge bay around the time the photo was taken

Image captured One hour and 24 minutes before low water (falling spring tide). Tide height was 0.7m (2.1 ft). Range 1.87m (6.1 ft). Toggle tide graph

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Sponge bay Surf Photo: 'Empty right reef' by Rob Davies

A good spot, but unless there is a NE breeze, it will always be bigger/better at Makorori and Wainui. Can be an ok option if those are too big.

3.0

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User: Rob Davies (1346 photos)

Country: New Zealand (2476 photos)

Photo taken at: 10:21 am 9 Feb 2013