Surf Forecasts:
Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,692 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period with E 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 4s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 21st Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (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 coming up for Rainbow Bay over the next couple of weeks.
Alright, straight up, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got some solid swell pushing in, but it’s coming with a real nasty onshore wind and a stormy feel, so the surf is going to be pretty poor. It’s not until the 21st of July that things start looking sharp.
The standout window is definitely the morning of Tuesday the 21st. The swell settles to a clean 8 feet from the east, with a 10-second period giving it some proper push. The wind is a gentle cross-offshore breeze, and the combined energy is moderate (1157). The water temp is about average for this time of year. This is the best you’ll see all week – clean, lined up, and very surfable.
Then Wednesday the 22nd is a real treat. The waves back off to 5 feet, still from the east on a 9-second period, but the wind goes glassy – absolutely dead calm. That’s a rare gift for a point break, and the energy is still there (445). It’s a perfect morning for a longboard or a funboard, just you and the birds.
We get a bit of a lull after that, with smaller surf and less favourable wind, but then the weekend of the 25th and 26th of July brings another solid run. Saturday morning the 25th is the pick of that period: a clean 7.2 feet south swell, 10-second period, and a gentle offshore breeze. The energy is strong (1478), and the point will be running nicely with some proper shape. Crowds are often here, so get up early.
The surf stays fun and rideable right through the 27th and 28th, with clean offshore winds and solid 5.6 feet to 5.2 feet waves. By the 29th of July it gets smaller, dropping to under 3 feet, and the last few days of the run are small and weak, with combined energy under 300. Nothing to get excited about.
So, to sum it up: the best is the morning of the 21st for quality, and the morning of the 25th for a bit more size and punch. Get out there.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 19°C on Sun morning, min 15°C on Fri night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Warm (max 20°C on Mon morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SE on Mon morning, calm by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 785 | 816 | 1005 | 1261 | 2146 | 4286 | 2274 | 2198 | 2385 | 2091 | 1923 | 1789 | 1257 | 938 | 538 | 417 | 364 | 275 | 243 | 238 | 180 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 3:34PM1.43m | 3:01AM1.08m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 8:25AM0.50m | 10:06PM0.79m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — |
 | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — |
mm | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | ENE 6 | S 16 | NE 9 | ESE 10 | S 21 | SSE 20 | SSE 18 | SSE 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 9 | 41 | 20 | 3 | 2146 | 78 | 37 | 32 | 29 | 66 | 85 | 73 | 1257 | 938 | 538 | 417 | 364 | 275 | 243 | 238 | 180 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 19 | NE 8 | — | S 20 | — | — | S 24 | S 24 | S 17 | — | — | — | S 12 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 14 | 9 | — | 8 | — | — | 11 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | 69 | 22 | 34 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 22 | — | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 11 |
| kJ | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 785 | 816 | 1005 | 1261 | 1367 | 4286 | 2274 | 2198 | 2385 | 2091 | 1923 | 1789 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 438 | 555 | 598 | 2 | 2 | 644 | 651 | 634 | 599 | 324 | 142 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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