Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 17s period, S swell with 2,375 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 8s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rolling Stones this week:
The surf forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 2.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming up at Rolling Stones.
Right now, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. Sunday morning the 23rd is surfable with 2.3ft south swell, but the 25 km/h northwesterly offshore is making it feel pretty ordinary. Wave energy’s weak at 148, and the water’s sitting at 53.2°F – that’s nearly two degrees colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be glad of a good steamer. Sunday afternoon drops to 1.6ft and gets a bit more breeze, so nothing to write home about.
Monday the 24th picks up nicely. Morning brings 4.9ft from the SSW with a light westerly cross-off, and the energy jumps to 362. The swell period is short at 9 seconds, so it’s a bit on the weaker side, but the clean conditions make it a solid session. Monday afternoon is bigger at 5.9ft south swell with a long 14-second period, and the energy hits 1370 – that’s moderate to strong. The light easterly cross-shore keeps it clean, but that long-period south groundswell can make it wall up and close out a bit on a reef setup like this. Still, it’s a standout if you’re an advanced surfer.
Tuesday the 25th is a cracker. Morning has 4.3ft south swell, 12-second period, 556 energy, and a light northwesterly cross-off. Then Tuesday afternoon goes glassy – 3.6ft, 12 seconds, 420 energy, and absolute glass. That’s about as clean as it gets, and the 3.6ft south swell on a reef like this will be peeling nicely. Best of the week right there.
Wednesday the 26th stays clean. Morning is glassy with 2.6ft and a very long 17-second period. Energy’s 498, which is moderate. That long-period groundswell on a reef is going to produce some beautiful, lined-up waves, though you’ll be waiting a bit between sets. Wednesday afternoon has 2.9ft, 16 seconds, and a light north-easterly cross-off. Solid again.
Thursday the 27th brings another standout. Morning has 4.3ft south swell with a 17-second period and 988 energy – that’s getting up there. Light northwesterly offshore makes it clean. This is the kind of morning where you paddle out early and don’t come back for hours. Thursday afternoon jumps to 5.9ft with the same 17-second period and energy cranking to 1919, but the east-north-easterly cross-shore might put a little wrinkle on it.
Friday the 28th is still good. Morning has 5.2ft, 15 seconds, 1097 energy, and a light northerly offshore. That’s proper groundswell on a reef – expect power and shape. Friday afternoon drops slightly to 4.6ft but stays clean with a moderate north-northwesterly offshore. Both sessions are worth it.
Saturday the 29th fades a bit. Morning has 3.3ft, 12 seconds, 306 energy, and a westerly cross-off, but it’s marginal. Saturday afternoon gets onshore and messy with a southerly wind, so I’d call it a day early.
Sunday the 30th is poor. Small 2.0ft from the SSE, 220 energy, and cross-off winds – not worth it.
Monday the 31st sees a big jump. Morning has 11.5ft from the SSW at 10 seconds – that’s expert territory. Energy is 3684, which is very strong. The wind is a moderate westerly cross-shore, so it’s going to be a bit of a beast. That’s only for the brave. Afternoon drops to 6.9ft, still strong at 877 energy, but a light southerly cross-on means it won’t be clean.
Tuesday the 1st of September is back to clean. Morning has 3.3ft, 16 seconds, 736 energy, and a light north-northwesterly offshore. That’s a beauty. Afternoon holds 4.3ft with the same period, 898 energy, and a north-easterly cross-off. Still very good.
Wednesday the 2nd is windy. Morning and afternoon both have around 3.3ft, 15 seconds, but the west-north-westerly is blowing 30 km/h in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. That’s going to chop things up.
Thursday the 3rd is worse – rain showers, 35 km/h south-westerly cross-on, and lumpy conditions. Not a day for it.
Friday the 4th has 5.2ft in the morning but only 8 seconds, 331 energy, and a moderate westerly cross-off. It’s marginal. Afternoon is 4.9ft, 11 seconds, 579 energy, still cross-off. Not terrible but not great.
Saturday
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SSW 9 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
104 | 50 | 43 | 322 | 1335 | 1034 | 530 | 339 | 198 | 381 | 417 | 236 | 975 | 1907 | 1909 | 1074 | 704 | 377 | 278 | 202 | 138 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | off |
High Tide | 1:56PM1.54m | 2:10AM1.45m | 2:43PM1.52m | 2:58AM1.40m | 3:28PM1.49m | 3:46AM1.38m | 4:13PM1.49m | 4:33AM1.38m | 4:59PM1.50m | 5:22AM1.41m | 5:47PM1.53m | 6:11AM1.46m | 6:33PM1.57m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:10PM0.48m | 8:23AM0.46m | 8:57PM0.47m | 9:11AM0.44m | 9:43PM0.43m | 10:00AM0.41m | 10:29PM0.39m | 10:48AM0.36m | 11:15PM0.34m | 11:32AM0.32m | 00:03AM0.30m | 12:17PM0.28m | 00:49AM0.26m | ||||||||
6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SE 13 | SSW 9 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 11 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 |
104 | 50 | 43 | 322 | 1335 | 1034 | 530 | 339 | 198 | 381 | 417 | 236 | 975 | 1907 | 1909 | 1074 | 704 | 377 | 278 | 202 | 138 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | NE 4 | SSE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | NE 4 | SE 13 | S 18 | S 15 | S 10 | S 9 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 4 | ESE 12 | SE 15 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | SE 12 | SE 14 |
44 | 5 | 17 | 34 | 35 | 2 | 26 | 55 | 163 | 90 | 39 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 5 | 25 | 53 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 13 | NE 5 | S 18 | — | SE 13 | NE 5 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 10 | — | E 16 | SE 15 | NE 9 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | NE 10 | NE 5 |
— | 44 | 4 | 6 | — | 28 | 1 | 26 | 15 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 4 | — | 5 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 28 | 4 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 3 | NW 4 | SW 4 | NW 3 | — | NNE 4 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NE 3 | NE 4 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | ENE 4 | — |
5 | 14 | 16 | 1 | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 110 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rolling Stones Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rolling Stones provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rolling Stones can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rolling Stones 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 (Rolling Stones) 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 Rolling Stones 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.
Rolling Stones is 48 km (30 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











