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Surf Forecasts:

Rainbow Bay surfForecast / QLD – Gold Coast / Australia

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 3 am Wednesday 14 Jan 2026 AEST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Rainbow Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
25.3° C
 (Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rainbow Bay this week:

The surf forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 12 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 14) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s 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 12 days are 4.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jan 21) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jan 14) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Wed 14th Jan)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf 7AM (Thu 15th Jan)6ft (1.8m) 8s
Most Powerful10AM (Wed 21st Jan)13ft (4.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 12 days.

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent 
12 DaysHourly
Print Table

Short Range Forecast Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 27°C on Fri afternoon, min 22°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu night).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Heavy rain (total 43mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat night, fresh winds from the SE by Mon night).

Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
AMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
3
Swell
Height Map
See all maps
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
1.3
SSE
1.6
SSE
1.6
ESE
1.7
ESE
1.6
ESE
1.5
E
1
E
0.7
SE
1.1
NE
1
ENE
1.2
ENE
1.2
ENE
0.9
ENE
1.1
ENE
1.3
ENE
1.3
E
1.1
E
1
E
1.3
SSE
2.2
SE
2.5
ENE
Period(s) (?)6677776866767788899813
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)121179242294225199796991851169677992012011491722736662515
Wind
(km/h)
25
SSE
25
SSE
15
SSE
20
SSE
15
ESE
5
NE
10
NNE
20
NNE
10
N
15
NNE
15
NE
5
ENE
10
ESE
15
E
10
S
20
SSE
20
SE
30
SE
35
SSE
35
SSE
30
SSE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		glasscross-
on		onononcross-
on		glasscross-
off		crossoffcross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		cross-
off		offoff
High Tide
/ height (m)
4:48PM
1.12
5:54AM
1.64
5:50PM
1.13
6:38AM
1.73
6:42PM
1.17
7:17AM
1.81
7:27PM
1.21
7:54AM
1.86
8:07PM
1.24
8:28AM
1.89
8:44PM
1.28
9:02AM
1.89
9:20PM
1.31
Low Tide
/ height (m)
11:42AM
0.75
10:50PM
0.50
12:35PM
0.66
11:40PM
0.46
1:19PM
0.58
12:25AM
0.43
1:57PM
0.50
1:06AM
0.40
2:33PM
0.45
1:45AM
0.38
3:06PM
0.40
2:22AM
0.37
3:38PM
0.38
3:00AM
0.37
Wednesday
14
Thursday
15
Friday
16
Saturday
17
Sunday
18
Monday
19
Tuesday
20
Sunrise5:01--5:01--5:03--5:03--5:03--5:05--5:05--
Sunset-6:46--6:46--6:45--6:45--6:45--6:45--6:45-
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
part cloud
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
Rain (mm)
-----3111--181-813122-3
Temp. °C262624252624252725272724262624252524252523
Feels °C (?)232324242526282928292827282727252623202119
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder

Latest Updates

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FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Rainbow Bay surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.

View detailed surf forecast for Rainbow Bay at:
surf-forecast.com

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 12 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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