Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 15 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
20.9° C
0.2° 

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 14 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, ESE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 5,728 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 1AM. 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 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Fri 17th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 8s
Best Surf 1AM (Tue 21st Jul)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sun 19th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Rainbow Bay for the next couple of weeks.

First things first, the early part of the forecast is a dud. Don’t bother checking the surf for the first several days—the swell is tiny and the wind is blowing hard. It’s a washout.

The first real chance to get wet looks to be around Wednesday the 22nd. The morning shows a clean 7ft wave from the East, with a gentle offshore breeze from the South. The energy is moderate (827). By the afternoon, the swell picks up to 7ft from the East, the period stretches to 12 seconds—that’s proper groundswell—and the wind goes light, making for clean conditions. The energy jumps to a strong 1306. This is where it gets good.

Now, Thursday the 23rd is the standout. The morning is magic: glassy conditions, no wind, and a clean 8ft swell from the East with a 12-second period. That’s serious groundswell, and the combined energy is a solid 1651. For a point break like Rainbow Bay, this is the best you’ll see. The afternoon is almost as good, with clean 8ft waves.

Things hold up through the end of the week. Friday the 24th morning has a clean 7ft East swell with a gentle offshore breeze. Saturday the 25th morning offers 5ft with a moderate offshore, and Sunday the 26th sees a drop to 5ft, but still with a gentle offshore breeze.

The following week, from Monday the 27th through Tuesday the 28th morning, the surf drops to 4ft but the conditions are clean and glassy, with a long 11-second period. It’s small but fun, and the energy is moderate (517). The wind stays light, so it’s a good time for a longboard.

After that, the wind turns onshore and the swell fades, so the run of good surf is pretty much done by the end of the month.

To sum it up: the first week is a no-go. The real window is from Wednesday the 22nd to Monday the 27th, with Thursday the 23rd being the absolute best day—glassy, solid groundswell, and clean. Get out there.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 41mm), heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 17°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sat afternoon, light winds from the SE by Mon night).

Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
ESE
9
1.9
S
6
2.5
S
8
3
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
2.4
SSE
8
2.5
SSE
8
3
SSE
8
3.5
SE
9
4
SE
10
5
SE
11
4.5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
3.5
SE
10
3.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
11
2.5
ESE
10
2.3
ESE
10
2.1
E
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
9
275
924
1046
1346
1073
734
889
1056
1974
3228
5728
4061
3979
3504
2860
2217
1994
1225
978
865
Wind (km/h)
15
S
30
S
30
SSW
30
S
30
S
30
SSE
30
SSE
30
SSE
30
S
35
S
40
S
45
SSE
40
SSE
40
SSE
35
SSE
30
SSE
30
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
20
SSE
15
S
Wind State
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
9:03PM2.00m
9:27AM1.29m
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
Low Tide
2:20PM0.18m
3:43AM0.20m
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
part cloud
thunderstorm
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
light rain
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
mod rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:08
 mm
1
4
4
12
9
4
5
2
7
6
5
2
1
Temp °C
17
16
15
16
17
17
17
17
17
19
18
18
18
19
18
18
18
18
19
19
18
Feels °C
11
10
9
10
11
12
12
12
11
13
11
11
12
13
12
13
13
14
16
15
15
  • 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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