
Surf Forecasts:
Rainbow Bay surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 2,091 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period. 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 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rainbow Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
We’ve got a solid pulse of south-east swell hitting Rainbow Bay, but it’s a mixed bag – some real quality, but then it drops right off. The water temperature is sitting at 71°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so nothing weird going on there.
The standout is without a doubt Wednesday morning (8 July) at Rainbow Bay. We’re looking at a solid 10ft south-east swell with an 11-second period, and it’s clean with a moderate offshore breeze from the south. The combined energy is pumping at 2351, so there’s plenty of grunt in the water. This is proper stuff, but with that size it’s for experienced surfers only – beginners should stay out of the way. The point will handle it well, and with the offshore wind, it’ll be nice and clean. The setup looks good for paddle surfing, no question.
Thursday (9 July) is still very good, though a touch smaller at 8ft to 8ft from the south-south-east, with periods around 10-11 seconds. Winds stay offshore and the energy is still strong at around 2413. Again, this is for the experienced crew – excellent conditions, just not quite the peak of Wednesday morning.
Friday (10 July) the swell backs off to 7ft, energy drops to around 865, still clean with offshore winds, but it’s got a “good” feel rather than excellent. Saturday morning (11 July) is glassy with a 5ft south-east swell – smaller and cleaner, but the energy is down to 541 so it’s a much more relaxed session.
Now, here’s where it gets quiet. From Saturday afternoon right through to Thursday morning (16 July), the surf really goes flat. There’s nothing worth paddling out for – drops to below 3ft, poor conditions, messy winds. That’s a solid 5-day stretch of nothing.
Thursday morning (16 July) sees a tiny bump – 4ft from the south, clean enough, but only 255 energy. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary. You wouldn’t get out of bed for it. Friday (17 July) has a bit of a longer-period SE swell at 14 seconds, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, so it’s messy.
Saturday morning (18 July) is glassy again with a 3ft south-east swell at 12 seconds, and 451 energy – that’s actually clean and might give you a few fun little waves if you’re desperate, but it’s nothing to write home about. After that, it’s back to small and ordinary for the rest of the outlook.
So realistically, the best of it is right at the start: Wednesday and Thursday morning. The rest of the 16 days is either flat, too small, or blown out. If you miss that early window, you’ll be waiting a long time.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | ESE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2330 | 1978 | 2091 | 1245 | 1332 | 862 | 733 | 820 | 628 | 384 | 324 | 328 | 253 | 178 | 98 | 56 | 30 | 44 | 25 | 13 | 9 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 2:28PM1.41m | 2:21AM1.31m | 3:36PM1.51m | 3:33AM1.23m | 4:41PM1.63m | 4:46AM1.19m | 5:41PM1.76m | 5:54AM1.19m | 6:37PM1.88m | 6:55AM1.21m | 7:29PM1.97m | 7:49AM1.24m | 8:17PM2.01m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:35PM0.62m | 8:50AM0.33m | 9:58PM0.57m | 9:49AM0.29m | 11:14PM0.48m | 10:49AM0.25m | 00:20AM0.38m | 11:46AM0.21m | 1:18AM0.29m | 12:40PM0.17m | 2:10AM0.22m | 1:31PM0.16m | 2:59AM0.20m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | |
mm | 1 | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 15 | — | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 12 | SE 11 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 10 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 4 |
21 | — | 1665 | 1168 | 967 | 862 | 733 | 820 | 628 | 384 | 324 | 328 | 253 | 178 | 98 | 56 | 30 | 44 | 25 | 13 | 3 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | — | SE 15 | ESE 13 | SSE 9 | S 9 | S 9 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | S 4 | S 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 132 | — | 9 | 149 | 158 | 56 | 39 | 24 | 13 | 20 | 24 | 17 | 19 | 3 | 5 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 | S 20 | S 17 | — | — | E 11 | — | N 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | 6 | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 20 | 20 | 6 | 10 | 9 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | NW 4 | SSW 3 | — | — | S 4 | SSW 4 | — |
2330 | 1978 | 2091 | 1245 | 1332 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 59 | 352 | 279 |
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.










