Surf Forecasts:
Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 10PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, ENE swell with 217 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rainbow Bay in the next 16 days are 1.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 10PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 27) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down in feet and miles.
Rainbow Bay is the only spot on the board, and honestly, it’s a slow couple of weeks. The pattern is mostly small and ordinary, so don’t get your hopes up too high until we get near the end of August.
From Friday August 21st through Wednesday August 26th, forget it. Swell is around 2 to 3 feet, period short at 7 seconds, and energy is weak to moderate (72 to 222). Winds are onshore or cross-onshore, choppy. Stay home.
Thursday August 27th morning shows a clean cross-off breeze and a 4-foot swell from the ENE, period 8 seconds. Energy hits 359 (moderate). Waves are rideable but nothing special – that east direction isn’t the best for Rainbow Bay’s preferred SE.
The real standout? Friday August 28th morning. Glassy calm winds, 3-foot swell from the south with a longer 10-second period. Energy is 295 (moderate). That south swell lines up perfectly for the point. Water temp is about average for late August. Crowds are likely, but that’s the price for clean waves.
Saturday August 29th morning has a moderate south offshore and a 4-foot east swell (9 seconds), energy 294. Clean, but not as good as the 28th.
From August 30th into September 4th, it’s a mix of okay conditions – some offshore winds, some cross-off – with swell mostly 4 to 6 feet but short period (7-8 seconds). Energy stays moderate (177 to 430). Nothing fires.
September 3rd does have the biggest energy reading of the whole run: 430, with a chest-high 3-foot, 11-second east swell and clean cross-off winds. Longer period means better shape for the point, but that east direction is still not optimum. Worth a paddle, though.
Bottom line: Friday August 28th morning is your best shot – glassy, clean, and south swell. The rest is pretty average.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat morning, min 16°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 16°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 82 | 57 | 47 | 66 | 54 | 65 | 81 | 93 | 81 | 61 | 60 | 101 | 167 | 158 | 176 | 212 | 196 | 93 | 99 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:05AM1.04m | 2:53PM1.38m | 2:27AM0.98m | 4:06PM1.44m | 4:06AM0.98m | 5:05PM1.53m | 5:19AM1.04m | 5:52PM1.62m | 6:12AM1.13m | 6:33PM1.69m | 6:54AM1.21m | 7:10PM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 7:27AM0.55m | 9:52PM0.79m | 8:38AM0.57m | 11:07PM0.72m | 9:53AM0.56m | 11:58PM0.62m | 10:57AM0.52m | 00:38AM0.52m | 11:49AM0.47m | 1:12AM0.43m | 12:34PM0.41m | 1:44AM0.36m | |||||||
 |  | | |  | | |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 82 | 57 | 47 | 66 | 54 | 65 | 81 | 93 | 81 | 61 | 60 | 101 | 167 | 158 | 176 | 212 | 196 | 93 | 99 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 7 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 7 | ESE 8 | S 3 | SSE 11 | S 9 | S 7 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | E 8 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 44 | 42 | 30 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 41 | 34 | 50 | 48 | 29 | 17 | 16 | 93 | 69 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | E 13 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | S 9 | NE 9 | NE 7 | SE 11 | SE 16 | — | S 17 | S 16 | SE 16 | S 9 | NE 13 |
| kJ | 60 | 36 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 33 | 10 | — | 6 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 4 | NW 2 | NNE 3 | WNW 2 | SSW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 4 | — | NE 7 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 56 | 13 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 5 | 204 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 634 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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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