Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 03 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.7° C
1.2° 

Rolling Stones surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Rolling Stones surf forecast from 2 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 7,900 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period with S 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 03) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 22s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Mon 3rd Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 10s
Best Surf12PM (Fri 7th Aug)5ft (1.6m) 17s
Most Powerful 3AM (Wed 5th Aug)18ft (5.5m) 12s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what we’ve got coming up. It’s a bit of a mixed bag for the Rolling Stones (reef), so let’s break it down.

The pattern starts with some solid, but messy, energy. We’ve got a long period S swell coming in at 6 ft early Monday morning, with a period of 10 seconds and combined energy of 663 (moderate). The cross-offshore wind from the WNW at 9 mph should keep it clean. That’s a decent start, but the wind swings around and the quality drops fast. By Monday afternoon, it’s marginal, and then Tuesday and Wednesday get absolutely hammered by strong onshore winds - we’re looking at 10 ft to 16 ft of S and SSW swell with energy readings over 4000 and 6000, but it’s all blown out and lumpy. That’s not for paddling; that’s a kite-surfing show if you’re into that.

The real standout, the one you wait for, is Friday the 7th of August. The morning session is looking glassy with a light NW wind at just 3 mph. The swell is a clean 3 ft from the S, but here’s the kicker – the period is 18 seconds. That’s a very long period groundswell, meaning loads of energy (1314) and those long, walling lines. At a reef, that’s going to be absolutely perfect. The sets will be far apart, but the wave quality will be top-notch. This is the pick of the window.

The following Saturday morning, the 8th, is also a good call with a clean 6 ft S swell (13 sec) and an offshore NW breeze at 9 mph. The energy is 1154 (moderate-strong). Sunday the 9th morning has a lovely 5 ft S swell with a 15-second period and a light NW wind – it’s clean and excellent for experienced surfers, with energy at 1488. Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th get trickier with onshore winds and smaller, weaker swell.

After that, there’s a real gap. The 12th is a write-off with strong onshore winds and a short, messy swell. But then Thursday the 13th of August brings a return of good conditions. The morning shows a 8 ft S swell with an offshore NNW breeze at 6 mph, making for clean waves. The period is only 8 seconds, so it’s a shorter period wind swell, but with 732 combined energy, it’ll still be fun. The following Friday and Saturday mornings are clean and glassy, but the swell drops to 6 ft and 5 ft, and the direction swings more to the SSE/SE. It’s not the same quality as the 7th, but it’s still surfable.

The final week starts to fade. The 17th and 18th taper off into small, weak, and messy conditions. The energy drops to 288 and then 110, and the swell is tiny. We’re looking at a long gap of poor or marginal surf after the 13th, with only small windows of clean glass for the 14th and 16th.

So, the standout is without a doubt Friday the 7th of August. That glassy morning with the long period S groundswell for a reef like Rolling Stones is a magic moment. Set your alarm. The Saturday and Sunday after that are solid, clean options too. Just be aware the crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 26mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 4°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
3
3
3
4
2
2
2
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)
1.7
S
10
1.1
SSE
11
1.5
S
12
3
S
14
4
S
13
5
S
12
5
S
12
4
S
12
3
S
12
3
S
11
2.3
S
11
1.7
SSE
10
1.7
SSE
10
2
S
16
2.4
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.3
S
11
1
S
10
0.8
SSE
16
0.8
S
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
627
292
649
3972
5783
7000
6531
4593
2798
1998
1201
516
610
2038
2280
1021
722
410
221
329
229
Wind (km/h)
15
WNW
10
SSW
25
W
35
SSW
40
SSW
45
SW
40
SSW
35
SSW
30
SW
20
WSW
15
SW
10
NW
5
NW
10
ENE
15
NW
20
NW
20
NW
10
W
10
WSW
15
SSW
20
WSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
off
glassy
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
9:19PM1.63m
9:39AM1.59m
10:04PM1.65m
10:22AM1.63m
10:51PM1.66m
11:10AM1.67m
11:41PM1.67m
12:04PM1.70m
00:33AM1.67m
1:01PM1.74m
1:29AM1.67m
2:00PM1.77m
2:29AM1.68m
Low Tide
3:02PM0.29m
3:34AM0.27m
3:49PM0.29m
4:19AM0.27m
4:38PM0.30m
5:05AM0.28m
5:29PM0.31m
5:54AM0.28m
6:23PM0.31m
6:46AM0.27m
7:22PM0.29m
7:41AM0.25m
8:22PM0.24m
clear
clear
rain showers
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:07
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:20
5:21
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
 mm
1
5
4
10
2
2
2
3
1
Temp °C
14
15
11
7
6
7
8
8
9
9
9
6
9
11
12
15
15
12
12
12
10
Feels °C
11
12
8
-1
-3
-3
-1
0
2
3
5
4
7
8
8
10
11
10
9
9
6
  • 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 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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