Rainbow Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 28.16° S 153.55° E

Rainbow Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 3 pm 12 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rainbow Bay sea temperature is
20.8° 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 12 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 1AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SE swell with 6,320 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 10s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s is also forecast. 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 4PM.

Wave TypeTime (AEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7PM (Sun 12th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 10s
Best Surf 1AM (Thu 16th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful10AM (Sat 18th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


Alright, this is Rusty, lookin' at the next stretch for Rainbow Bay. It’s a sheltered point, so it needs a bit of a specific angle to come alive, and for the first few days, it’s just gonna be flat. Real flat. You’re lookin’ at a dry spell from now through at least the 15th of July. The water’s sittin' about average for the time of year at 70°, so nothin' wild there.

The whole story changes on Thursday the 16th. That’s when the ocean wakes up. We’ve got a solid pulse of south swell pushin' in, 12ft on the morning and growin' to 15ft by the afternoon. The wind is howlin' offshore from the south at 25 mph, so the faces will be clean as a whistle, but this is serious power. Combined wave energy is massive at 2207 and 3558, and with size over 8ft, this is expert territory only. The period is 9 to 10 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell under a groundswell, but it’ll be raw and charging.

Friday the 17th keeps the momentum, with 10ft to 12ft of south-southeast swell, and that same strong offshore wind. It’s a bit of a messy, powerful setup though, and the scores reflect that it’s not perfect. The real standout, the one you’d circle on the calendar, is Saturday the 18th. That afternoon, we’ve got an 18ft swell from the southeast, with a period stretchin’ to 12 seconds. That’s proper groundswell with a lot of energy (7628 combined energy). The wind is offshore from the south-southeast at 22 mph, so it’s glassy and clean. For a break like Rainbow Bay, that’s a big, powerful, clean day. It’s too big for anyone but experts, but it’ll be a show.

Sunday the 19th is still solid, with 12ft droppin’ to 8ft, and the wind is a bit lighter at 16-18 mph offshore. Still really good, but the peak is definitely Saturday afternoon. Early the next week, Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st, the swell backs down to 7ft to 6ft with clean offshore winds. That’s more manageable for strong intermediates, and the quality is still up there. The energy is moderate at 998 to 637, but the shape should be good.

After that, it fades. By Wednesday the 22nd, we’re down to 4ft, and by Thursday the 23rd it’s under 3ft. The rest of the run into the 27th is small and ordinary, with a brief bump of 7ft on the 26th, but that’s got a short period of 8 seconds and cross-off winds, so it’s not the one.

So, if you’re an expert, Saturday the 18th afternoon is the absolute top shelf. That’s the big one. For the rest of us, the Monday and Tuesday after that are your best bet.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds.

Sun
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
Saturday
18
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ESE
10
0.7
SE
10
0.6
ESE
9
0.5
SE
9
0.5
S
8
0.5
SSW
8
0.3
S
8
0.2
ESE
10
0.2
ESE
9
0.2
E
9
3
S
9
3.5
SSE
9
4
SSE
9
3
SSE
9
2.5
SSE
9
3
SSE
8
4
SSE
10
5
SE
11
5
SE
11
3.5
SSE
10
2.2
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
175
98
55
38
33
38
11
10
9
7
1301
2217
2928
1331
1118
1103
3132
6320
6069
2644
885
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
10
WSW
0
ESE
10
NE
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
ESE
10
SSW
10
S
30
S
25
SSW
30
SSW
35
SSE
35
SSE
35
S
35
S
30
SSW
40
SSE
40
S
35
S
35
S
Wind State
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
off
High Tide
6:37PM1.88m
6:55AM1.21m
7:29PM1.97m
7:49AM1.24m
8:17PM2.01m
8:40AM1.27m
9:03PM2.00m
9:27AM1.29m
9:47PM1.94m
10:12AM1.30m
10:28PM1.83m
10:57AM1.31m
11:07PM1.70m
11:42AM1.32m
Low Tide
1:18AM0.29m
12:40PM0.17m
2:10AM0.22m
1:31PM0.16m
2:59AM0.20m
2:20PM0.18m
3:43AM0.20m
3:07PM0.23m
4:25AM0.24m
3:53PM0.31m
5:04AM0.30m
4:38PM0.41m
5:41AM0.36m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
heavy rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:05
5:05
5:06
5:06
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:07
 mm
3
11
5
8
1
2
7
3
4
Temp °C
22
17
17
17
16
18
17
16
17
16
13
16
17
17
17
16
17
18
18
17
16
Feels °C
19
14
15
15
14
16
14
14
11
10
8
10
11
11
11
9
10
12
12
10
10
  • 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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