Surf Forecasts:
Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, S swell with 633 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with ENE 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 24) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 12s. 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 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Imperial Version
Alright, let’s talk about Rainbow Bay. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real promise lurking in the back half of this forecast. The first few days are just kind of there, but don’t write it off just yet.
Friday the 24th is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a small 3ft swell from the ENE with a short 8-second period, and while the wind is offshore, it’s a moderate 20 km/h breeze. The energy is weak (120), so it’s not really doing much. Saturday the 25th is where the first real spark shows up. The morning brings a clean 3ft swell from the SE, but the real story is the period: a massive 16 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy jumps to 723. The wind is a light 10 km/h offshore, so it’ll be clean. Keep in mind, that long period like that can make the waves bend a bit straight at the beach, but for a point break like Rainbow Bay, it can be pure magic. Sunday the 26th morning is glassy with a 5 km/h wind and a 3ft SSE swell at 10 seconds. That’s a beautiful window for a smooth session.
The real standout, though, is shaping up for Monday the 3rd of August. The morning brings a solid 6ft swell from the ENE with an 8-second period. The energy is strong (460), and we’ve got a gentle 15 km/h offshore wind. That’s a serious day of waves. Then it gets even better. Friday the 7th of August morning has a 6ft ENE swell, and by the afternoon it jumps to 8ft. The energy is pumping at 879, and with a light 10 km/h offshore wind, it’s going to be firing. That’s the pick of the whole run, but it’s a fair way out, so don’t book the time off just yet.
Now, Saturday the 8th of August is a beast. We’re looking at a 13ft swell from the ENE with an 11-second period and a massive 3725 energy reading. That’s a heavy day. The wind is a light 10 km/h cross-shore, so it’s not exactly clean. That kind of size is for experts only, and you’ll be fighting some serious current. Honestly, at that size and with the wind angle, it might be more of a kite surfer’s paradise than a paddler’s.
The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing too wild to report. The crowds at Rainbow Bay can be a problem, especially when it’s good, so keep that in mind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu night, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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) | E 8 | ENE 8 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | SE 16 | SE 14 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 6 | NE 6 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 130 | 107 | 240 | 318 | 349 | 203 | 218 | 173 | 166 | 184 | 160 | 118 | 251 | 219 | 108 | 66 | 29 | 22 | 40 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 3:01AM1.08m | 4:37PM1.50m | 4:18AM1.05m | 5:32PM1.59m | 5:28AM1.06m | 6:20PM1.68m | 6:26AM1.10m | 7:02PM1.75m | 7:15AM1.15m | 7:40PM1.80m | 7:57AM1.19m | 8:16PM1.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:06PM0.79m | 9:22AM0.50m | 11:21PM0.74m | 10:20AM0.49m | 00:20AM0.66m | 11:16AM0.46m | 1:06AM0.57m | 12:06PM0.43m | 1:46AM0.49m | 12:51PM0.41m | 2:22AM0.43m | 1:33PM0.39m | 2:54AM0.38m | ||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 16 |
Feels °C | 16 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 10 | SSE 10 | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 6 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 130 | 107 | 49 | 90 | 315 | 169 | 218 | 173 | 166 | 184 | 160 | 118 | 144 | 129 | 108 | 66 | 29 | 22 | 40 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | E 12 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 16 | SE 14 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | E 4 | ENE 6 | S 8 | E 13 |
| kJ | 8 | 11 | 21 | 26 | 349 | 203 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 9 | 20 | 20 | 12 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 10 | S 21 | E 9 | E 8 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 7 | NE 6 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 7 | SE 16 |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 59 | 58 | 25 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 4 | SSE 7 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | SSE 3 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 3 | ENE 4 | — | SE 7 | S 7 |
| kJ | — | 19 | 240 | 318 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | 251 | 219 | 4 | 10 | — | 7 | 16 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 10 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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