
Surf Forecasts:
Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 18 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 3,400 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period with SE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rainbow Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rainbow Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Fri 18th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. This one’s a bit of a slow burn, so don’t jump in too early.
Right now, the water temp here at Rainbow Bay is sitting at 70° – bang on average for this time of year, nothing unusual there.
Friday morning, we’ve got a 7ft swell rolling in from the SSE with a 9-second period. It’s blowing straight offshore from the south at 12 mph, keeping things clean. The combined swell energy is sitting at a solid 753 (moderate), and the comments are calling for good surf. This is your pick of the early window – nothing else comes close for a few days. Keep in mind that 7ft is getting up there for beginners; it’s not massive, but you’ll want some experience under your belt.
After Friday morning, it goes quiet. From Friday afternoon all the way through to Tuesday the 16th, it’s a wasteland – small, weak, and messy with onshore or cross-off winds. There’s a big gap of several days with nothing worth paddling out for.
Then, things flip. Wednesday afternoon the 16th and Thursday the 17th see a big jump: 12ft SSE swells hitting with 9-10 second periods. The energy numbers spike hard – 2068 and 2235 (strong to very strong energy). The wind is howling offshore from the south at 18-25 mph, which will make the surface look perfect, but paddling into that size with that much wind will be a battle. This is expert-only territory. The swell direction (SSE) is not the optimum SE for Rainbow Bay, so it may wrap in a bit less organized. The quality is described as marginal – likely due to the combo of size and strong wind making it hard to get into. Still, for the experienced crew, Thursday morning looks like the best of that pulse.
Friday the 18th settles a bit: 10ft from the SSE, offshore wind easing to 15 mph, and the energy is still strong at 1337. The call is “expect very good surf conditions.” This is likely your standout period – still big but more manageable, and clean.
After that, it drops back down through the weekend and into the following week. Saturday the 19th has 6ft from the SE with light cross-off winds, but it’s nothing special. From Sunday the 20th onward, it’s all onshore winds (N/NE) and tiny surf – mostly under 3ft and weak energy (below 250). Another long gap sets in. There’s a weird spike on Wednesday the 23rd afternoon with a 10ft S swell, but it’s blowing onshore at 15 mph from the north, so the quality is garbage – steer clear.
The best bet: Friday morning the 11th for a clean, moderate-size session, and then keep an eye on Friday the 18th for a bigger, cleaner, more powerful day. Thursday the 17th is for the hardcore only.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Mon morning, strong winds from the S by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | N 4 | E 6 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
749 | 599 | 479 | 355 | 284 | 298 | 110 | 84 | 121 | 103 | 72 | 66 | 49 | 48 | 28 | 20 | 2065 | 3100 | 2228 | 1834 | 1640 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | off | off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 8:16PM1.77m | 8:36AM1.55m | 8:52PM1.67m | 9:13AM1.57m | 9:26PM1.55m | 9:50AM1.56m | 9:57PM1.41m | 10:28AM1.53m | 10:27PM1.28m | 11:08AM1.49m | 10:58PM1.16m | 11:55AM1.44m | 11:36PM1.05m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:54PM0.17m | 2:33AM0.19m | 2:37PM0.22m | 3:04AM0.23m | 3:18PM0.30m | 3:34AM0.29m | 3:58PM0.41m | 4:02AM0.35m | 4:40PM0.52m | 4:29AM0.42m | 5:27PM0.64m | 5:00AM0.48m | 6:27PM0.73m | ||||||||
5:48 | — | — | 5:48 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:41 | — | — | |
— | 5:36 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | |
mm | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | E 13 | E 14 | E 14 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | N 5 | E 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 13 | S 18 |
4 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 284 | 183 | 96 | 84 | 121 | 103 | 72 | 30 | 25 | 16 | 25 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 16 | S 21 | NE 15 | S 19 | SSE 20 | SSE 19 | SSE 20 | SSE 19 | E 6 | E 5 | E 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 6 | — | — | — | S 19 | E 12 |
5 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 38 | 69 | 40 | 35 | 15 | 15 | 2 | 66 | 49 | 48 | 16 | 20 | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | N 15 | — | E 12 | E 13 | E 9 | SE 16 | E 11 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 12 | E 10 | E 9 | NE 12 | NE 12 | E 14 | — | — | — | — | NE 16 |
— | 4 | — | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 10 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | — | SE 8 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | — | — | E 6 | — | N 2 | N 3 | N 4 | S 5 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
749 | 599 | 479 | 355 | — | 298 | 110 | 58 | — | — | 29 | — | 1 | 8 | 28 | 74 | 2065 | 3100 | 2228 | 1834 | 1640 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 203 | 1 | 12 | 265 | 40 | 203 | 1374 | 7 | 438 | 324 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rainbow Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rainbow Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rainbow Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rainbow 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 (Rainbow 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 Rainbow 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.
Rainbow Bay is 6 km (4 miles) from Banora Point. If you plan a holiday in Gold Coast, look for hotels and other accommodation in Banora Point. Banora Point has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










