Surf Forecasts:
Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 1 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 7 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, SSE swell with 207 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 1.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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 1.5m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, checkin' in with the outlook for Rainbow Bay. Pretty quiet run ahead, but let's get into it.
To be straight with you, the next week and a half is looking flat and frustrating. The early part of September is a write-off, with nothing but tiny, weak little bumps and mostly onshore crud. We're talkin' days of poor surf conditions with clean winds only giving us ankle-snappers around 1 to 2 feet. The swell energy is weak, just a dribble (32 to 61 on the scale). It's a real bust for the first week.
Friday the 11th is where it finally gets interesting, but it's not for the faint-hearted. The swell suddenly jumps to 10 feet out of the SE, with a moderate energy reading (1252). The period is a short 8 seconds, so it's gonna be a bit of a close-out mess, but the wind is clean and cross-offshore. This is big, powerful, and only for experienced surfers. The 12th and 13th keep the swell around 8 feet and 6 feet, but the wind swings onshore, chopping it up.
The one standout, the only real light in the tunnel, is the morning of Friday the 11th. That's your best bet. Clean, 10-foot SE swell at Rainbow Bay. It's a sheltered point, so it might handle the size better than a beach, but that short period means it'll be chunky and powerful. Don't take a beginner out there. After that, it slowly drops back into the doldrums for the second week, with weak, choppy leftovers.
Look, Rainbow Bay is a beginner-friendly point, and it's 'fairly consistent' normally, so this run of nothing is a bit of a shock. It'll come good again, but for now, this forecast is a long, slow grind. Stay patient.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sun morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | E 10 | E 10 | N 5 | E 9 | N 5 | N 5 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | S 10 | N 5 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 70 | 57 | 45 | 45 | 73 | 82 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 73 | 114 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 39 | 72 | 125 | 79 | 115 | 108 | 113 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | glassy |
High Tide | 11:20AM1.50m | 11:28PM1.27m | 12:19PM1.49m | 00:27AM1.14m | 1:29PM1.49m | 1:44AM1.05m | 2:50PM1.54m | 3:16AM1.03m | 4:06PM1.62m | 4:37AM1.09m | 5:11PM1.72m | 5:40AM1.20m | 6:05PM1.80m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:35PM0.42m | 5:38AM0.30m | 6:46PM0.49m | 6:33AM0.35m | 8:15PM0.52m | 7:45AM0.38m | 9:46PM0.47m | 9:06AM0.38m | 10:58PM0.39m | 10:22AM0.33m | 11:54PM0.29m | 11:26AM0.26m | 00:41AM0.22m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:34 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 18 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 27 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 15 | 23 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 25 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 5 | S 10 | S 9 | E 10 | E 10 | N 6 | NNE 6 | S 8 | S 10 | NE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 |
| kJ | 70 | 48 | 45 | 45 | 28 | 51 | 34 | 24 | 10 | 73 | 42 | 18 | 18 | 69 | 18 | 72 | 125 | 57 | 115 | 108 | 113 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | E 9 | E 10 | S 8 | SSE 10 | E 10 | S 9 | SSE 11 | NE 8 | S 9 | NE 7 | NE 7 | E 9 |
| kJ | 43 | 57 | 33 | 34 | 33 | 28 | 28 | 15 | 10 | 27 | 35 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 39 | 69 | 37 | 79 | 23 | 16 | 40 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 11 | NE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | E 9 | E 9 | SE 17 | SE 15 | SSE 10 | E 10 | S 9 | E 10 | ESE 5 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | NNE 6 |
| kJ | 31 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 33 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 3 | N 4 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | N 5 | SSE 3 | — | N 5 | NNE 5 | N 5 | N 6 | N 6 | — | SE 5 | — | ESE 5 | — | SE 3 | SE 3 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 28 | 41 | 41 | 73 | 82 | 3 | — | 17 | 21 | 114 | 165 | 109 | — | 74 | — | 7 | — | 2 | 4 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 12 | 16 | 10 | 40 | 144 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 265 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gold Coast | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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