Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Issued: 5 pm 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
13.2° C

1.2°C colder than average for this time of year

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 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 11s period, S swell with 6,295 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 10s period with E 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 (Jul 06) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 9s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Mon 6th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 10s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 7th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Most Powerful 9AM (Fri 10th Jul)18ft (5.5m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

G’day, Rusty here. We’re looking at a bit of a slow start at Rolling Stones, but once the swell kicks in, this spot is gonna fire. The water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 56°, so maybe grab an extra mm of rubber.

Sunday the 5th is a write-off – small, messy, poor conditions. Nothing doing. Monday the 6th starts to show some promise. Morning sees a 3ft easterly swell with light cross-off breezes, and the energy is building (312). The afternoon cleans right up: 6ft from the east, buttery light offshore wind, and the combined energy jumps to 507. It’s not huge but it’s clean and there’ll be some fun ones.

Tuesday the 7th morning is where it starts to get spicy. Rolling Stones sees a glassy 6ft easterly swell, the combined energy hits 678, and the wind is dead calm. The water’s glassy, the wave shape will be good – this is pick of the first half of the week. The afternoon turns a bit cross-on, so get out early.

Wednesday the 8th morning: 8ft from the ESE, period 11 seconds, and dead glassy. The energy is pumping at 1255 (moderate to strong). That’s a solid, clean groundswell – proper power, longer gaps between sets, and with that direction, the reef should line up nicely. This is for advanced surfers only. The afternoon gets a bit cross-on and drops to a 7ft, still sizeable but less appealing.

Thursday the 9th through to Sunday the 13th is a straight mess. Swell builds to 12ft-15ft but it’s onshore, choppy, rain, and strong winds. The energy readings are huge (2730-4079) but the quality is poor – think lumpy, messy, fresh cross-onshore conditions. This is more of a kitesurfer’s playground than a paddler’s dream.

A true standout: Wednesday the 15th. Morning glass: 15ft from the SSE, 11-second period, light offshore breeze, combined energy roaring at 4857. That is a very big, powerful swell and it’ll be clean. Only experts need apply. The afternoon glass is 12ft, still excellent, but the morning is the session.

Thursday the 16th fades, but Friday the 17th morning brings a glassy 5ft southeasterly groundswell (11 sec, 685 energy) – clean, easy, beautiful. Then Friday afternoon throws a surprise: a long-period 3ft southerly swell at 15 seconds, energy 1001. That’s a very long period groundswell; it’ll wrap beautifully at this reef but expect longer waits between sets. Saturday the 18th morning offers 5ft from the south (14 sec, 1012 energy) with clean cross-off winds – another good one.

After that, the swell drops right off into tiny, weak waves from the 19th and 20th. A few days of flat or near-flat conditions to end the run.

For the whole period, my two standouts are Tuesday 7th morning for the clean, manageable size, and Wednesday 15th morning for the big, clean, powerful groundswell – that’s the one to circle on the calendar.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Wed night, strong winds from the S by Fri night).

Sun
5
Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
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
2
0
2
3
1
2
3
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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
1.2
E
10
1.3
E
9
1.9
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.7
E
10
2.2
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
11
2
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.5
ESE
10
2.3
S
10
4
SSE
10
5.5
S
11
5
S
10
4.5
S
11
4.5
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3
SE
10
2.5
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
167
268
252
614
529
425
552
917
1022
836
678
440
958
3125
6295
4546
4946
3923
2549
1869
1520
Wind (km/h)
20
NNE
15
N
15
NNE
10
NNE
10
NW
5
WSW
10
SW
15
W
10
WSW
15
SSW
15
SW
25
SW
25
SW
25
SSE
40
S
45
SSW
45
S
40
SSW
35
SSW
30
SSW
25
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
9:44PM1.57m
10:05AM1.50m
10:30PM1.58m
10:48AM1.53m
11:16PM1.60m
11:34AM1.57m
00:04AM1.63m
12:26PM1.63m
00:54AM1.67m
1:22PM1.70m
1:49AM1.70m
2:19PM1.77m
2:46AM1.73m
Low Tide
3:27PM0.35m
4:02AM0.31m
4:14PM0.35m
4:46AM0.31m
5:01PM0.35m
5:32AM0.31m
5:49PM0.35m
6:18AM0.31m
6:42PM0.36m
7:07AM0.30m
7:39PM0.34m
8:00AM0.29m
8:39PM0.30m
8:58AM0.26m
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:58
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:01
 mm
6
6
2
2
7
3
14
5
2
2
4
1
Temp °C
14
11
13
11
11
11
12
10
10
12
12
13
12
13
12
12
11
10
10
10
11
Feels °C
11
9
11
8
8
10
10
8
8
9
9
9
7
9
5
4
2
2
3
4
5
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
ESE
10
1.2
E
10
1.3
E
9
1.9
E
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.7
E
10
2.2
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
11
2
ESE
10
1.9
ESE
10
1.5
ESE
10
1.5
ESE
10
1.5
E
10
0.5
SSW
18
0.2
SSW
22
0.4
SSW
20
3
SE
10
2.5
SSE
10
Energy kJ
167
268
252
614
529
425
552
917
1022
836
678
416
442
431
180
45
132
1522
1520
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
17
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
14
0.2
S
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
10
0.6
SSW
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
9
0.7
S
8
0.4
SSW
12
0.3
SSW
17
0.4
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
20
0.3
SSW
21
0.4
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
18
0.6
S
16
Energy kJ
6
5
4
31
109
59
77
48
38
57
52
54
85
75
90
79
318
186
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
22
0.1
S
13
0.5
S
18
0.4
SSW
17
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.2
SSW
10
0.4
SSW
16
0.1
S
22
Energy kJ
5
9
3
165
97
86
81
68
60
9
90
9
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
NE
7
1.8
ENE
9
2
ENE
8
0.7
S
8
2.1
S
7
2.3
S
10
4
SSE
10
5.5
S
11
5
S
10
4.5
S
11
4.5
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
Energy kJ
178
486
567
55
440
958
3125
6295
4546
4946
3923
2549
1869
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
2
3
3
4
Distance (km)
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
84
93
11
158
158
158
162
93
93
84
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
9
7
5
6
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
5
5
8
7
6
8
  • 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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