Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 16 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
20.9° C
0.1° 

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 16 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, 7PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,360 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period with SSE 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 (Jul 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 19s 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 16) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Fri 17th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Best Surf 7PM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 7PM (Sat 18th Jul)15ft (4.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into the surf outlook for Rainbow Bay. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster over the next couple of weeks, so pay attention.

The overall pattern is simple: a massive pulse of SSE swell hits us mid-week, but it’s all pretty tricky with the wind. Right now, the water temp is sitting at 70°F — that’s bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We jump straight into it on Thursday the 16th. The swell is up, but it’s a big one. We’re looking at 12 ft to 13 ft SSE swell, with a solid 9-second period and a combined energy sitting at 2028 to 2330 (moderate to strong). That’s a heap of water, and with a strong offshore wind from the south, it’ll be clean, but that size is well over 8 ft, so it’s strictly for the experts. The wind is fresh, so it’s not glassy, but it’s offshore, so the face will be clean. Be warned, the guides say this is a marginal call on the tide, so watch the bank.

Friday the 17th drops off a touch, with 8 ft to 8 ft SSE swell, still with a moderate offshore wind, but the energy has dropped to 723 to 674 (weak to moderate). The period is short at 8 seconds, so it will be a bit crumbly. Still, the wind is clean, so it’s okay for a paddle, but not the standout.

Now, Saturday the 18th is the big one. The swell jumps back to 13 ft to 15 ft from the SSE/SE, with a period of 9 to 10 seconds, and the combined energy is massive: 2883 to 3996 (strong to very strong). This is a serious groundswell. The wind is strong offshore, which means it will be clean, but the guide says it’s “hard to paddle into.” That’s the truth. This is a big, powerful, expert-only wave. If you’re not a pro, stay on the beach and watch.

Sunday the 19th continues with 13 ft, but the wind shifts to a cross-offshore, which is still clean but not as good. The energy stays high (2995 to 2894). The period is 9 to 10 seconds. Again, this is a big one.

The surf starts to fade from Monday the 20th, with 12 ft to 10 ft, dropping to 8 ft on Tuesday the 21st. The period is still 10 seconds, but the energy is dropping (2174 down to 1170). The wind is cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but it’s losing its punch.

Wednesday the 22nd brings a shift. We’ve got 5 ft from the east, with a gentle offshore wind. The energy is 461 (weak). The guide says “expect good surf conditions”. This is a sweet spot for the intermediate crowd. It’s far more manageable than the weekend.

From Thursday the 23rd onwards, the surf drops way down. We’re looking at 3 ft to 4 ft for a few days, with very light winds. The energy is pathetic: 287 down to 136. It’s basically flat or mushy. There’s a long gap of poor surf from the 23rd to the 29th. The wind is clean, but there’s just no power.

The end of the month shows a glimmer. On Thursday the 30th, we get a 7 ft South swell, but it’s cross-onshore, so it’s messy. Then finally, on Friday the 31st, we get a 6 ft South swell with a moderate offshore wind, 9-second period, and energy of 823 (moderate). The guide says “expect good surf conditions”. This is the best option in the second week. It’s a clean, punchy wave, about 5 ft to 6 ft, with a solid offshore wind. It’s not the biggest, but it’s the most manageable clean option in the back half of the forecast.

The only true standout is the massive swell on Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th. If you are an expert, that’s your window. The crowd will be a factor at Rainbow Bay, as it’s often busy, but with that size, it might thin out a bit. The longer-range stuff on the 31st is promising, but less certain.

For the beginner, the best bet is the smaller, cleaner day on the 22nd, when the swell is 5 ft and the wind is light.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 51mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun afternoon, min 17°C on Sun morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sun morning, light winds from the S by Tue night).

Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
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
3
1
1
1
2
3
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
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
4
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.3
SSE
8
2.4
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
4
SSE
9
4.5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4
SE
9
4
SE
10
4
SE
9
3.5
SE
10
3
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.4
ESE
10
1.8
ESE
9
1.6
E
10
1.5
E
9
1.3
ESE
8
1.3
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2028
2327
1294
700
653
1137
2883
3951
3822
2918
2883
2557
2112
1594
1273
1065
510
499
372
246
305
Wind (km/h)
35
S
35
S
25
SSE
25
SSE
30
S
30
S
35
S
40
S
40
S
40
S
35
SSE
35
SE
30
SSE
30
SSE
25
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
15
SSE
5
SSW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
High Tide
9:47PM1.94m
10:12AM1.30m
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
Low Tide
3:07PM0.23m
4:25AM0.24m
3:53PM0.31m
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
rain showers
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:09
 mm
5
9
11
4
4
4
4
4
6
3
4
7
1
Temp °C
16
16
17
18
17
16
17
18
18
18
19
19
19
19
18
19
18
18
18
18
18
Feels °C
9
9
13
14
12
11
11
12
12
12
14
14
14
14
13
15
14
16
16
17
18
  • 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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