Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 pm 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
21.0° C
0.1° 

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 18 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 7AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 10s period, SE swell with 4,951 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 9s 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 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-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 Sunday (Jul 19) 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 1.2m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Tue 21st Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Best Surf 7PM (Tue 21st Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 7AM (Sun 19th 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 get straight into it. The next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag, but there’s a real standout building towards the end of the month and into August.

Right now, Sunday the 19th of July is a no-go. We’ve got a big 16ft swell rolling in from the SE, but with a screaming 40 km/h offshore wind, it’s just too gnarly to paddle into. The combined energy is massive at 5950, but it’s one for the hardcore tow-in crew only, if that. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing unusual there.

The drop down through Monday and Tuesday sees the swell ease but still holds some size. Monday morning has 13ft SE swell with a fresh cross-offshore breeze, keeping it clean but still a handful. Tuesday morning drops to 8ft from the ESE, and the wind is backing off. The energy is still moderate (1352), and it’s surfable for the experienced.

Now, Wednesday the 22nd of July is where it gets interesting. The morning is a beauty for Rainbow Bay. We’ve got 6ft of E swell, period at 9 seconds, and it’s glassy – absolute glass. The wind is a whisper, and the combined energy is 562. This is a clean, fun little window for a point break like this. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a light cross-on, so hit the dawn patrol.

The rest of the week into the weekend is small and ordinary. We’re looking at 3ft to 6ft stuff, mostly with clean winds but weak energy. The combined energy drops into the 100-300 range, so it’s weak. Nothing to get excited about.

Then there’s a gap. From around the 28th of July through to the 30th, it’s pretty much flat and poor. Small onshore slop, energy barely breaking 100. A couple of days of nothing.

But hold on. The real standout is coming. On Friday the 31st of July, we see a pulse of long period groundswell. The morning has 3ft from the SSE with a 16-second period and a light offshore. The energy jumps to 452. That’s a very long period, so it’ll wrap in nicely at Rainbow Bay, though it might be a bit too straight for the beach, it’s perfect for this point. The afternoon gets glassy again with 8ft from the SE, energy at 697. That’s a solid session.

But the best of the best is Saturday the 1st of August. The morning has 10ft of SE swell, period 8 seconds, with a light offshore. The combined energy is 1468 – strong. The wind is light, clean, and it’s a proper expert-level day. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. Afternoon drops to 8ft but still very good.

The following Sunday and Monday hold decent, clean 5ft to 6ft swells with moderate offshore winds, keeping it rideable but not as epic as that Saturday.

So, overall, the first week is a slow burn with a few clean windows. The second week is quiet until the 31st of July, then boom. The absolute standout is Saturday the 1st of August – big, clean, and powerful. Get on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue night, min 15°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
5
SE
10
5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4.5
SE
10
4
SE
10
3.5
ESE
10
3
ESE
10
2.5
ESE
10
2.2
E
10
1.9
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.7
E
9
1.6
ENE
9
1.4
ENE
9
1.2
ENE
8
1
ENE
8
1.8
SSE
7
1.7
SSE
7
1.4
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
4961
4904
4322
4222
3023
2162
1775
1269
904
601
516
455
366
268
190
144
285
281
288
Wind (km/h)
40
S
40
SSE
40
SSE
40
SSE
30
SE
30
SSE
20
SE
20
SE
15
SE
10
ESE
5
SSE
5
NE
5
WNW
5
SSE
20
SSE
20
S
25
S
25
SSE
15
S
Wind State
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
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
4:37PM1.50m
Low Tide
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
9:22AM0.50m
11:21PM0.74m
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
6:33
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:08
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:10
 mm
4
4
2
5
1
1
1
1
1
Temp °C
17
18
18
18
19
19
18
19
19
19
18
19
18
19
19
17
18
17
15
Feels °C
11
12
12
13
14
14
13
16
16
17
18
19
18
17
16
15
12
12
11
  • 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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