Rainbow Bay surfForecast / QLD – Gold Coast / Australia

information circle12 Day Weather and Surf, issued 9 pm Sunday 21 Dec 2025 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
25.4° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)


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 Thursday (Dec 25) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rainbow Bay in the next 12 days are 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Dec 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 7s period and expected on Monday (Dec 22) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10AM (Thu 25th Dec)2ft (0.6m) 9s
Best Surf10AM (Thu 25th Dec)2ft (0.6m) 9s
Most Powerful 4AM (Fri 26th Dec)8ft (2.5m) 8s

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

Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast Heavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Tue night. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Mon afternoon, light winds from the SSW by Wed morning).

Days 3-6 Weather Summary Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 21°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sun
28
NightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Wave Height (m) & direction (?)
0.1
NE
0.2
ESE
0.3
NE
0.3
NE
0.3
NE
0.4
NE
1
NNE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.4
NE
0.6
S
0.4
NE
2.5
SSE
2.5
SSE
2.2
SE
1.8
SE
0.8
S
1
S
0.9
SSE
0.8
SSE
0.8
SSE
Period(s) (?)188161615156141413913887791010109
Wave
Graph
(?)Metric surfscale
Energy kJ (?)121041383375727065626156842691515275107204160123118
Wind
(km/h)
30
NNW
25
N
30
N
20
NNW
10
NNE
20
N
20
NW
5
E
10
NNE
10
NW
5
NE
30
SSE
30
SSE
30
SE
25
SE
15
SE
15
SE
20
SE
15
ESE
20
SE
15
ESE
Wind State (?)
onshore
cross-onshore
cross-shore
cross-offshore
offshore
glassy
onononcross-
on
ononcross-
on
crosscross-
on
cross-
on
glasscross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
cross-
off
High Tide
/ height (m)
9:24AM
1.82
9:38PM
1.14
10:00AM
1.79
10:20PM
1.14
10:37AM
1.75
11:06PM
1.15
11:19AM
1.68
11:58PM
1.17
12:06PM
1.60
12:57AM
1.22
1:00PM
1.51
2:03AM
1.30
2:03PM
1.42
Low Tide
/ height (m)
2:32AM
0.40
4:09PM
0.46
3:09AM
0.44
4:47PM
0.46
3:49AM
0.47
5:26PM
0.45
4:35AM
0.51
6:08PM
0.44
5:30AM
0.55
6:54PM
0.42
6:37AM
0.58
7:45PM
0.39
7:55AM
0.59
Monday
22
Tuesday
23
Wednesday
24
Thursday
25
Friday
26
Saturday
27
Sun
28
Sunrise-4:45--4:46--4:46--4:47--4:47--4:48--4:48-
Sunset--6:40--6:42--6:42--6:43--6:43--6:44--6:44
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
Rain (mm)
-----51023---4--------
Temp. °C252828262928232626253027242222222223232323
Feels °C (?)252727263231252930273326231819202122212121
  • 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

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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 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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