Surf: Sponge Bay despite its name, is not a bodyboarder heaven but a reefy beach with easy rollers up to a flanking left point and a right reef known as The Rock. Needs a bit of S swell to get going and is dead offshore in NE sea breeze. Directions: From Gisborne town centre drive east on Gladstone Road, onto Wainui Road, State Highway 35, towards Wainui. Start going up the hill to Wainui and turn right onto Sponge Bay Road. Drive to the end of the road and Sponge Bay beach. Environment: Good improvers spot.