Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 9 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
21.3°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 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 1PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, SSE swell with 1,937 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 7PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Tue 8th Sep)6.5ft (2.0m) 8s
Best Surf10PM (Thu 10th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 1PM (Thu 10th Sep)11ft (3.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s shaping up for Rainbow Bay. We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but there’s a solid pulse of energy coming through mid-week that’s worth getting excited about.

The first couple of days are pretty ordinary. Tuesday morning the 8th has some shoulder-high 4ft swell from the south, but it’s blowing a fresh 16 mph southerly, so it’s messy. The water temperature is sitting at 70°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year – nothing unusual there. The swell energy is weak (303), so it’s not really worth the paddle. Tuesday afternoon picks up a bit in size to 6ft, but the period drops to 7 seconds and the wind is still strong, so it’s a write-off.

Wednesday the 9th sees a slight improvement. Morning gets a clean 5ft from the SSE with a light 3 mph cross-offshore breeze, making it look okay. The swell period is a moderate 9 seconds, and the energy is still modest (352). Afternoon turns cross-on and the quality drops off.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Thursday the 10th is a standout. The swell pumps up to 12ft from the SSE, with a 9-second period. That’s a solid, powerful swell – the combined energy is a massive 1583, so you’ll feel the juice. The wind is a fresh 22 mph offshore, keeping it clean. But listen, at 12ft, this is only for experienced surfers. Rainbow Bay is a sheltered point, so it’ll handle the size, but beginners should sit this one out. The afternoon holds at 10ft and still clean with offshore wind.

Friday the 11th is another cracker. Morning brings 8ft from the SSE with 16 mph offshore wind. The period is 9 seconds, energy is 1084 – strong, punchy waves. This is the best of the whole run. The afternoon drops to a cross-offshore breeze, but the swell sticks around at 8ft from the SE, though the period shortens to 8 seconds.

Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th see the swell steadily drop from 7ft down to 3ft, with cross-offshore winds. It’s cleaner but the energy fades fast. By Monday the 14th, the swell is barely 2ft, and the energy is down to 111 – really just small, weak waves.

The following week, from the 15th onward, it’s pretty flat. A few days of tiny, short-period swell under 3ft with poor wind directions. There’s a little bump on the morning of the 16th with 2ft from the south, but the wind is a fresh 19 mph, so it’s not inviting. Late on the 16th, the swell jumps to 7ft from the SSE, but the period is only 7 seconds and the wind is cross-offshore, making it lumpy.

The 17th and 18th are small again, with the 18th having onshore winds from the north. The 19th is dead flat with onshore breeze. From the 20th to the 23rd, we see a tiny, consistent 4ft to 4ft swell from the east-northeast, but the period is short (7-8 seconds) and the wind is mostly cross or cross-offshore. It’s surfable but very ordinary.

So, if you’re looking for the best, Thursday morning the 10th and Friday morning the 11th are your windows. Big, clean, offshore conditions at Rainbow Bay, but only for the crew who can handle solid waves. The rest of the period is a lot of small, weak surf with a few average days mixed in.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed morning, fresh winds from the S by Thu morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 16°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
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
2
1
0
1
2
2
3
3
0
2
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
S
9
1.9
SSE
7
1.8
SSE
9
1.5
SSE
9
1.4
SSE
9
1.3
SSE
9
3.5
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
9
2.5
SE
8
2.2
SE
8
2
SE
8
1.9
SE
7
1.2
SSE
8
1.2
SSE
9
1
SSE
9
0.9
SSE
8
0.7
SSE
9
0.6
SSE
9
0.5
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
263
362
477
336
288
251
1575
1635
1302
1076
921
650
480
381
197
217
144
108
65
68
52
Wind (km/h)
25
S
25
SSE
15
S
5
SE
15
NE
20
S
35
S
30
SSE
20
S
20
S
25
SE
20
SSE
20
SSE
25
SE
20
SSE
25
SE
20
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
15
ESE
5
WSW
Wind State
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
6:05PM1.80m
6:31AM1.32m
6:53PM1.84m
7:16AM1.42m
7:36PM1.83m
7:57AM1.50m
8:16PM1.77m
8:36AM1.55m
8:52PM1.67m
9:13AM1.57m
9:26PM1.55m
9:50AM1.56m
9:57PM1.41m
Low Tide
11:26AM0.26m
00:41AM0.22m
12:20PM0.20m
1:21AM0.18m
1:09PM0.16m
1:59AM0.17m
1:54PM0.17m
2:33AM0.19m
2:37PM0.22m
3:04AM0.23m
3:18PM0.30m
3:34AM0.29m
3:58PM0.41m
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:48
5:48
5:47
5:46
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:35
5:35
5:36
5:36
5:37
5:37
 mm
2
1
1
2
2
1
3
2
2
Temp °C
19
19
17
18
18
17
18
18
17
19
18
18
19
19
17
19
19
18
19
19
17
Feels °C
15
14
14
17
16
15
11
12
12
15
13
14
14
14
14
15
15
16
17
17
17
  • 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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