Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
21.2° C
0.3° 

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 18 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,721 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 10s period with ESE 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 20) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) 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 Thursday (Jul 23) at 10PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 10s
Best Surf10PM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 10s
Most Powerful10PM (Sat 18th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of swell on the way, but it’s gonna be a wild ride. The first wave of energy is big, really big, and the wind is going to be a major player. The best call for the whole period is Saturday the 26th, where we get a nice clean window of opportunity.

Right off the bat, Rainbow Bay is looking at a serious pulse of swell. Starting Saturday the 18th, we’ve got a 12 ft to 15 ft SSE swell with a 9 to 10 second period. The combined energy is massive, hitting 2406 on Saturday morning and ramping up to 3716 in the afternoon. That’s a strong, powerful system. The wind is blowing offshore from the S at 22 mph, so it’ll be clean, but that’s a lot of water moving. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. This is expert territory, no doubt about it. It’s a point break, so it’ll handle that size, but you’ll need your wits about you.

Sunday the 19th is the peak of this first blast. The swell jumps to 16 ft from the SE, still with a 10-second period, and the energy is astronomical at 4657. The wind is a strong offshore from the SSE at 25 mph. It’s clean, but it’s going to be a battle to get out and a real handful once you’re in. Total expert-only stuff. The rain showers won’t help the mood either.

The swell starts to back off a bit on Monday the 20th, with 12 ft to 10 ft from the ESE, but the wind goes cross-offshore. It’s still clean, but that direction change can make it a bit tricky. The energy is still high at 2183 and 1687. The quality is dropping, and it’s a tough paddle.

Tuesday the 21st is a transition day. The swell drops to 7 ft in the morning, then 6 ft in the afternoon. We get a brief window of gentle offshore wind in the afternoon, which is a nice change. The energy is down to 610. It’s the first day that’s not a total war zone.

From Wednesday the 22nd through Friday the 24th, the swell goes really small. We’re looking at 5 ft down to 3 ft. The energy is weak, dropping to 128. The wind goes glassy or light, so it’s a pretty period for a paddle, but not much to ride. Wednesday the 23rd is a total flat spell.

Then we get a second pulse. Friday the 24th afternoon kicks off with a 8 ft SSE swell, 9-second period, and a moderate offshore wind. The energy is 1016, and the forecast is “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a nice, clean, solid size for a good surfer.

But the standout is Saturday the 26th. The morning brings a 6 ft S swell with an 11-second period and a light offshore from the S at 6 mph. The energy is 1182. The combination of a clean, long-period groundswell, offshore wind, and a manageable size is the best of the whole run. The longer period means the waves will have proper shape and power, and the gaps between sets will make the paddle out easier. This is the one you want to circle on the calendar.

After that, we get a drop-off again. Sunday the 27th is clean and glassy, but the swell is tiny at 3 ft. The rest of the week into the beginning of August is a series of small, weak swells ranging from 0.7 ft to 6 ft, with mostly offshore or cross-offshore winds. The energy is low, often under 500. There’s a small bump on the 29th of July with 6 ft from the SSE and a 10-second period, but it’s nothing special. Overall, the second week is a snoozer.

So, the big picture: Don’t bother with the first weekend unless you’re a pro. The best surf is clearly on Saturday the 26th. It’s a Sunday morning session that will be worth the wait. The 24th is a solid second choice. Everything else is either too big, too small, or too windy to get excited about.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun night, min 16°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sat night, light winds from the SSE by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 15°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Thu night).

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
4.5
SE
10
5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4
SE
10
3.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.4
E
10
2.2
E
10
2
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.4
E
9
1.3
E
8
1.2
E
8
1.1
E
8
1
E
8
1.9
SSE
7
3
SSE
8
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1724
1811
4402
4425
3680
3173
2585
1849
1115
922
700
516
292
245
200
165
137
298
1120
1343
904
Wind (km/h)
35
S
35
S
40
S
40
SSE
40
SSE
35
SSE
30
SE
30
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
10
SE
10
S
5
E
5
W
5
SSE
20
SE
25
S
30
S
30
SSE
25
SSE
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross
off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
High Tide
10:57AM1.31m
11:07PM1.70m
11:42AM1.32m
11:45PM1.55m
12:31PM1.33m
00:22AM1.41m
1:25PM1.34m
1:04AM1.28m
2:27PM1.37m
1:55AM1.16m
3:34PM1.43m
3:01AM1.08m
4:37PM1.50m
Low Tide
4:38PM0.41m
5:41AM0.36m
5:26PM0.52m
6:18AM0.41m
6:18PM0.63m
6:55AM0.45m
7:21PM0.73m
7:37AM0.48m
8:39PM0.79m
8:25AM0.50m
10:06PM0.79m
9:22AM0.50m
11:21PM0.74m
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:10
 mm
2
8
4
3
3
1
2
1
3
2
Temp °C
18
17
18
18
18
19
19
19
18
18
18
18
19
18
17
19
18
16
17
16
16
Feels °C
11
11
12
12
12
14
14
15
14
15
16
16
18
17
17
17
15
12
10
10
11
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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