Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 am 29 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
20.7° 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 29 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 10s period, SSE swell with 386 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 7s 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 10PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 7s 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 1.4m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)10PM (Thu 30th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 7s
Best Surf 1AM (Sun 2nd Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s
Most Powerful10AM (Sun 2nd Aug)4.5ft (1.4m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Rainbow Bay has in store for us over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow burn, so don’t expect fireworks right away.

The week kicks off pretty flat and uninspiring. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are basically a write-off with tiny, weak waves and messy conditions. We're looking at tiny swell under 2ft with poor energy (combined energy a measly 57). You’d be wasting your time paddling out.

Things start to show a little life on Friday morning the 31st. We get a bump of 4ft from the south with moderate offshore winds from the south. The wave energy picks up to moderate (365), but the quality is still just ordinary. Saturday the 1st is a mixed bag – a clean 3ft morning with light offshores, but it gets a bit messy later. The water temp is sitting at 69°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

Now, Sunday the 2nd is where it gets interesting. We’ve got a solid 5ft swell from the SSE, with a nice 10-second period on it. The combined energy jumps to a strong 619, and it stays clean with a gentle cross-off breeze. This is your first real look at some decent, surfable waves. Monday the 3rd keeps that energy going with similar 4ft swell, but the winds switch around and get a little crossy in the arvo.

The real standout, the one I’d circle on the calendar, is Tuesday morning the 11th of August. We’ve got a 5ft groundswell rolling in from the south, and the wind is dead glassy – dead calm. That’s a rare treat at Rainbow Bay. The water will be like a mirror, and those south pulses will wrap in nicely. Conditions will be absolutely pristine for a point break. Just keep in mind, Rainbow Bay is often a popular spot, so expect some company in the water. For the advanced crew, the swell builds in the afternoon to 6ft, but the wind swings cross-on, so the morning is definitely the pick.

Later in the second week, on Thursday the 13th of August, things get wild but not in a good way for paddle surfing. A massive 12ft swell from the SSE shows up, packing very strong wave energy of 2584. But with a strong onshore wind, it’s going to be a choppy, blown-out mess. For a sheltered point like Rainbow Bay, that setup looks a lot more fun for the kite surfers than it does for us on a log or a shortboard.

So, to wrap it up: the first few days are a dud, Sunday the 2nd gets things rolling, and that glassy Tuesday morning the 11th is the one to chase.

Stay stoked,
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 14°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
2
2
2
2
1
0
0
1
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)
0.5
S
7
0.6
ENE
6
0.3
NE
7
0.6
ENE
7
0.5
NE
7
1.1
SSE
7
1.3
S
9
0.5
E
7
0.9
SSE
10
0.9
SSE
10
1.8
SE
6
1.4
SSE
10
1.4
SSE
10
1.2
SSE
10
1.3
SSE
10
1.2
SE
10
1.2
SE
10
1
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
9
0.7
SE
9
0.6
ENE
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
28
25
9
31
23
111
287
24
158
176
239
356
386
281
347
316
292
188
106
75
36
Wind (km/h)
5
WSW
10
ENE
10
SSW
20
S
25
SSE
15
S
20
S
25
SSE
15
SSW
15
S
20
SSE
10
SE
15
SSE
15
ESE
10
S
10
S
10
E
10
WNW
5
SSW
10
E
10
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
High Tide
8:16PM1.82m
8:35AM1.24m
8:49PM1.82m
9:10AM1.27m
9:22PM1.78m
9:45AM1.30m
9:55PM1.72m
10:22AM1.33m
10:29PM1.64m
11:03AM1.35m
11:08PM1.54m
11:50AM1.37m
11:52PM1.41m
Low Tide
1:33PM0.39m
2:54AM0.38m
2:11PM0.38m
3:26AM0.35m
2:48PM0.38m
3:56AM0.33m
3:26PM0.39m
4:26AM0.32m
4:07PM0.41m
4:58AM0.31m
4:52PM0.44m
5:35AM0.31m
5:47PM0.49m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:30
6:30
6:28
6:28
6:28
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:14
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
 mm
1
1
3
1
2
Temp °C
21
19
17
18
17
16
18
16
16
17
17
17
17
18
16
17
17
16
18
18
17
Feels °C
19
17
16
14
13
13
13
11
12
12
13
13
15
14
14
16
16
15
16
16
16
  • 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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