Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 7,278 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 01) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 7s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, crew, Rusty here. Let's talk about Rolling Stones for the next couple of weeks. This is a proper reef, so we need the stars to align, and for the first few days, they're well out of whack.
It starts ugly. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are a complete write-off. You've got strong cross-shore and cross-onshore winds blowing 15-19 mph, turning any swell into a wind-blown, choppy mess. The energy is massive, over 1000 units, but it's all junk. This is kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing.
The first sign of life is Wednesday morning the 29th. The wind goes light offshore out of the NW, dropping to about 6 mph. The surf cleans right up to a waist-chest high 6ft from the southeast with a long 13-second period. It’s not big, but it's clean, and the energy is a manageable 1189. That's your first real window.
From Thursday the 30th through Saturday the 1st of August, we get a nice run of clean mornings. Thursday morning is the pick: a light 12 mph offshore wind from the NNW grooming a clean 4-5ft southeast swell. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Now, for the standout. The first one that really gets my blood pumping is Sunday the 9th of August. The morning forecast is absolute perfection. Glassy conditions, no wind, with a 4-5ft south swell rolling in with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy hits 1454, which is a solid, powerful pulse. This is the kind of day where Rolling Stones will have that classic, grinding reef wall. Get on it.
Then it gets heavy. For the advanced crew only, look at Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of August. The swell really jacks up. We're starting at 10ft on Monday morning and hitting a solid 13ft by Tuesday morning, with an energy reading of 3527. That’s big. The wind stays light and cross-offshore from the north and northeast, so the face will be clean but the power will be immense. This is a big-wave session for experts only. It’s a long way off, but the forecast is pointing at a serious, heavy swell.
Before all that, there are other decent, smaller windows, like the morning of Saturday the 8th of August with clean 4ft waves. For the everyday surfer, the 9th of August is the one to aim for.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Mon morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon morning, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 6°C on Sat night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 13 | S 8 | S 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | SSW 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 630 | 885 | 1069 | 2046 | 1847 | 1417 | 1167 | 993 | 850 | 575 | 435 | 286 | 256 | 197 | 148 | 203 | 7131 | 6100 | 4477 | 6392 | 6075 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:08PM1.56m | 4:23AM1.45m | 4:53PM1.55m | 5:09AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.55m | 5:56AM1.42m | 6:22PM1.55m | 6:43AM1.44m | 7:06PM1.57m | 7:30AM1.47m | 7:50PM1.58m | 8:14AM1.51m | 8:34PM1.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:53AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.49m | 10:40AM0.45m | 11:08PM0.46m | 11:24AM0.41m | 11:53PM0.41m | 12:05PM0.37m | 00:38AM0.36m | 12:47PM0.33m | 1:23AM0.32m | 1:30PM0.31m | 2:07AM0.29m | 2:15PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.27m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  |  | | |  | |
 | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Feels °C | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 0 | -3 | -4 | -4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 12 | ENE 15 | ENE 14 |
| kJ | 630 | 689 | 816 | 2046 | 1847 | 1417 | 1167 | 993 | 850 | 575 | 435 | 286 | 256 | 197 | 148 | 203 | 171 | 153 | 2854 | 21 | 21 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 18 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | NE 7 | NE 6 | ESE 11 | ENE 11 | ENE 16 | SE 13 | — | — |
| kJ | 17 | 70 | 64 | 27 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 19 | 162 | 172 | 107 | 35 | 63 | 63 | 13 | 73 | 40 | 25 | 87 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSE 11 | SE 10 | — | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 18 | — | NE 12 | S 16 | SE 16 | ENE 8 | SE 11 | NE 7 | ENE 17 | — | ENE 16 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | 46 | 16 | — | 6 | 5 | 106 | — | 6 | 47 | 10 | 62 | 31 | 7 | 29 | — | 24 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 7 | — | — | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NW 3 | W 4 | SW 6 | SSW 11 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 421 | 885 | 1069 | 497 | 209 | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 102 | 3 | 19 | 110 | 7131 | 6100 | 4477 | 6392 | 6075 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 41 | 95 | 78 | 7 | 93 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 93 | 131 | 167 | 167 | 169 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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