Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 17 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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 5,058 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m 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 1.1m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf 7PM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 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 the coming weeks for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a big, powerful swell rolling in, but the conditions are far from perfect. This is a serious, expert-only situation for the opening weekend. The setup is more like a kite-surfing playground than a clean paddle session, with strong winds and a lot of raw energy.

Starting Saturday, July 18th, Rainbow Bay is getting hammered. We’re talking a solid 12 to 15 feet SSE swell with a period of 9 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is massive, hitting 1684 on Saturday morning and rising to a whopping 3772 by the afternoon. The wind is a fresh offshore breeze from the south, so the face will be clean, but the sheer size and power mean only the most experienced chargers should even think about it. The tide and general conditions are making it a marginal call, and the crowds are likely to be thick.

Sunday, July 19th, the swell holds at 15 feet from the SE, with the energy staying near 3600. The wind shifts to a cross-off from the SSE, which keeps it clean, but the size hasn’t backed off. Again, this is big, raw, and not for the faint of heart.

By Monday, July 20th, the swell drops to 10 to 12 feet from the ESE, still with moderate energy (2012 to 2488). The cross-off breeze keeps the surface tidy, but we’re still in the realm of big, powerful waves. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The real standout arrives on Tuesday, July 21st. The morning session looks like the best of the week. The swell drops to a more manageable 8 feet from the ESE, with a period of 10 seconds, and the combined energy is a moderate 1173. For the first time, the conditions are described as "very good." The wind is a moderate offshore breeze from the SSE, and the water is clean. This is the window to get after it. The afternoon sees the swell drop to 7 feet and the energy fading, but the morning is the pick.

After Tuesday, the surf fades fast. Wednesday, July 22nd, through to the end of the month, we see a long, drawn-out lull. Swell sizes drop below 5 feet, and the energy levels fall into the double and low triple digits. The winds are mostly light, with some glassy moments, but the waves are small and weak. For a solid week, from July 23rd to July 30th, the options are very poor. Don’t expect much.

However, there’s a flicker of hope at the end of the run. On Friday, July 31st, a new 7 feet S swell arrives in the afternoon, with a combined energy of 1192. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the SE, keeping it clean. This is a promising sign. Then, into the first weekend of August, things look up. Saturday, August 1st, brings a 7 feet SSE swell with an 11-second period, and the energy is a solid 909. The wind is light and cross-off, and the outlook is "good." Sunday, August 2nd, continues with a 5 feet SSE swell, 11-second period, and a light offshore breeze. This is the real standout for the long-range: clean, moderate waves, and the wind is cooperating. The energy is a moderate 516. It’s far out, so don’t bank on it, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

So, the best call is Tuesday morning, July 21st, for a solid, clean session. The long-range promise is Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, but treat that as a hopeful whisper, not a guarantee.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sat afternoon. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue night, min 15°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
2
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
1
2
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)
3
SSE
8
3.5
SSE
9
4.5
SSE
10
5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4
ESE
10
3.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.4
ESE
10
2
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.5
E
9
1.4
E
9
1.2
E
8
1.1
E
8
1.1
E
8
0.9
ENE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1229
1676
3727
4583
3580
3525
3007
2422
1893
1245
1064
709
408
342
292
205
169
161
115
Wind (km/h)
30
S
35
S
35
S
40
S
40
SSE
35
SSE
35
SE
25
SE
30
SE
20
SSE
20
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
5
S
10
E
5
WSW
5
S
10
SE
10
SSW
Wind State
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
High Tide
10:28PM1.83m
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
Low Tide
5:04AM0.30m
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
rain showers
cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
cloud
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
clear
<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
<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
 mm
3
5
9
5
3
3
1
1
1
Temp °C
17
17
17
18
18
18
19
20
19
18
18
18
19
19
18
17
18
17
16
Feels °C
11
11
11
12
13
13
14
16
15
14
15
16
16
17
17
17
17
16
15
  • 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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