Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 04 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
20.4° C
0.4° 

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 3 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 9 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, E swell with 363 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 4 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period with SE 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 (Aug 04) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s. 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 1.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 09) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 4th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 9s
Best Surf 7AM (Tue 4th Aug)3.5ft (1.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 4PM (Sun 9th Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, checkin’ in.

First up, we’ve got a bit of a quiet start at Rainbow Bay. The early part of the week is looking pretty ordinary – small, weak, and the wind just isn’t playin’ ball. We’ve got a few days of surfing but it’s nothin’ to write home about. The water temp is sittin’ around 69°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year, so at least the water feels good.

Tuesday morning, the 4th of August, brings the first real chance. It’s tiny, 1.0ft of SE swell, but the wind is glassy from the north, which makes it clean. The energy is weak (168), so you’re not gonna get any power, but it’s a chance to get wet. The rest of that week is a bit of a write-off – small, weak, and with cross-onshore winds messin’ up the surface. A few mornings have a clean look, like Thursday the 6th with a light offshore from the south, but the swell is only 2ft with a short period.

Now, don’t lose hope. The real action starts to build from the second week. The standout for this whole forecast is the period from Thursday the 13th of August right through to the following week. On Thursday morning the 13th, we get a solid 8ft pulse from the south, with a period of 9 seconds and a strong offshore wind from the SSW creating clean conditions. The energy is very strong (1160). That afternoon, it jumps to 12ft from the SSE, with a fresh offshore wind. This is serious, heavy swell. Anything over 8ft is for experienced surfers only, and this is a big one. The break is a point, so it’ll handle that size well, but be aware the period is around 10 seconds, so it’s not a super long-period groundswell. Friday the 14th looks excellent, with 12ft swell and consistent offshore winds in the morning, earning a solid "excellent" call for experienced surfers.

The tail end of the run, from the 16th to the 19th, keeps the swell in the 6ft to 8ft range, still with clean offshore winds most of the time. Sunday morning the 16th has 8ft and a good offshore wind, and the energy is strong (1578). The water is still clean. The very last day, Wednesday the 19th of August, is a beauty – 7ft of SE swell, glassy conditions, and a bit of a lighter crowd mood. The energy is moderate (747), but it’s clean.

Keep in mind, Rainbow Bay is a sheltered spot, so it’s picky about swell direction. The optimum swell is from the SE, and those later pulses are from the SSE, which is a good match. The crowds can be a problem here, especially when it’s good. It’s a fairly consistent break, so when it’s on, people are on it.

So, the best on offer is hands down the period from Thursday the 13th to Friday the 14th of August. That’s the big swell, clean, and powerful. The later part of the run, especially the 16th and 19th, is also solid but a little smaller. If you’re not an expert, stay away from the 13th and 14th afternoons – that’s heavy stuff. For the rest of us, that’s the time to be in the water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SE
9
0.7
SSE
8
0.7
ESE
11
0.9
E
10
0.7
ESE
9
0.6
ESE
8
0.7
ENE
7
0.5
E
10
0.6
ENE
7
0.7
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
8
0.9
ENE
7
0.8
ENE
7
0.6
E
8
1.2
E
9
1.3
E
9
1.4
E
10
1.3
E
9
1.1
E
9
1.1
E
9
1
E
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
132
62
117
154
86
57
40
48
31
41
64
91
54
40
224
295
363
300
207
203
164
Wind (km/h)
5
N
15
NNE
10
NW
5
NNW
10
NE
10
WNW
5
SSE
10
SE
10
SW
10
SSE
10
SE
15
SSW
20
S
20
SSE
10
SSW
5
N
20
N
20
NNW
20
NW
15
NW
10
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
11:50AM1.37m
11:52PM1.41m
12:47PM1.40m
00:46AM1.28m
1:54PM1.44m
1:54AM1.16m
3:09PM1.51m
3:16AM1.09m
4:22PM1.62m
4:38AM1.09m
5:27PM1.74m
5:48AM1.14m
6:24PM1.85m
Low Tide
5:47PM0.49m
6:18AM0.31m
6:54PM0.54m
7:10AM0.32m
8:18PM0.56m
8:12AM0.33m
9:49PM0.52m
9:23AM0.31m
11:08PM0.43m
10:32AM0.27m
00:12AM0.33m
11:35AM0.22m
1:05AM0.24m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:24
6:22
6:22
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:16
5:16
5:17
5:19
5:19
5:20
5:20
 mm
Temp °C
18
18
18
20
20
18
17
16
15
17
17
16
19
18
16
18
18
18
22
23
16
Feels °C
15
15
16
18
18
17
15
14
15
15
15
14
15
15
15
16
15
15
18
20
12
  • 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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