Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
20.8° C
0.0° 

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


Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 1PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, S swell with 408 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 10s period with S 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 Monday (Jul 27) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. 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 1.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Mon 27th Jul)3.5ft (1.0m) 10s
Best Surf 1PM (Mon 27th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Most Powerful 1PM (Mon 27th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Rainbow Bay over the next couple of weeks. To be honest, it’s not looking like a barnburner. The first few days are pretty average, with small waves and nothing really firing. Monday the 27th has some surf around 3ft from the south, with a 10-second period. The energy is moderate (217), and in the morning you’ve got a light offshore breeze keeping it clean, but it’s pretty ordinary. That afternoon, some rain shows up with a cross-off wind, same size.

Tuesday the 28th, the swell drops to about 3ft from the south-southeast in the morning with light offshore wind, clean but weak. By the afternoon it’s smaller and cross-shore, real poor.

Wednesday the 29th is tiny, 3ft from the east-northeast with a short 6-second period. Glassy in the morning but no power. Thursday the 30th is messy, with a bump to 5ft in the afternoon from the south-southeast, but conditions are still poor. Friday the 31st and Saturday August the 1st have some rideable waves around 4ft, with moderate offshore winds keeping it clean, but the energy is moderate (357-388). It’s surfable, not a standout.

Then there’s a big lull. Sunday the 2nd is similar, but from Monday the 4th through Tuesday the 11th, it’s pretty much a bust. A week of tiny, onshore, or choppy junk. Not worth the paddle.

The one real standout is Wednesday the 5th of August. That morning, a solid 6ft south-southeast swell shows up, with an 8-second period. The combined swell energy is strong (465), and the wind is a gentle offshore from the south. That’ll give you clean, punchy waves at the point. The swell direction is right for the spot. It’s a beginner-friendly break normally, but 6ft is pushing into intermediate territory. That afternoon the swell hits 7ft but the period drops to 7 seconds, so it gets a bit crumbly and marginal.

Thursday the 6th of August is also worth a look. A 5ft south-southeast swell with a 10-second period, gentle offshore wind in the morning. The energy is strong (468). Clean and lined-up, but not as solid as that Wednesday morning.

After that, the last few days drop off again. Saturday the 8th has a 12-second period swell but only 2ft to 3ft, so it’s small and slow.

Best bet? Get out there on the morning of Wednesday the 5th of August. That’s your window. The rest is a bit of a write-off. Rainbow Bay is usually fairly reliable, so a long flat spell like this is a bit unusual, but it happens.

Crowds can be thick here, so expect some company.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed night, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SSE
10
1
S
10
1
S
9
0.9
SSE
9
0.9
SSE
9
0.7
SSE
9
0.9
E
6
0.8
ENE
6
0.7
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
6
0.6
ENE
6
1.4
SSE
7
0.8
SSE
11
1.3
S
9
0.3
E
8
0.8
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
10
1.2
SSE
10
1
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
227
184
180
149
116
77
62
50
36
27
27
186
130
293
11
131
335
282
181
Wind (km/h)
5
SSW
10
SSE
15
SSE
10
SSW
5
S
10
E
10
WNW
5
SW
10
ENE
10
SSW
20
S
25
SSE
15
SSW
20
S
25
SSE
15
SSW
25
S
20
SSE
20
SSE
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross
glassy
cross
off
off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
6:26AM1.10m
7:02PM1.75m
7:15AM1.15m
7:40PM1.80m
7:57AM1.19m
8:16PM1.82m
8:35AM1.24m
8:49PM1.82m
9:10AM1.27m
9:22PM1.78m
9:45AM1.30m
9:55PM1.72m
Low Tide
1:06AM0.57m
12:06PM0.43m
1:46AM0.49m
12:51PM0.41m
2:22AM0.43m
1:33PM0.39m
2:54AM0.38m
2:11PM0.38m
3:26AM0.35m
2:48PM0.38m
3:56AM0.33m
3:26PM0.39m
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:31
6:31
6:30
6:30
6:28
6:28
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:13
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
 mm
2
2
3
4
Temp °C
16
18
18
16
18
18
17
20
19
18
18
16
15
17
17
16
17
17
16
Feels °C
16
16
16
15
17
17
17
18
17
17
14
11
12
12
12
13
12
14
13
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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