Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with 4,620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s 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 (Sep 09) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Rolling Stones over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the first week is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a 16-day window here, but honestly, there’s nothing worth paddling out for until Monday the 14th of September. That’s a solid gap of nearly a week with no real recommendations. The water’s sitting at 55°, which is about average for the time of year, so no drama there.
The standout window is Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th. Monday morning is looking the pick of the bunch. Rolling Stones is a reef break, so it handles groundswell well, and we’ve got a clean 5ft swell rolling in from the south with a period of 13 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and with the wind swinging light offshore from the west, it’ll be glassy clean. The combined swell energy is moderate, around 908, so there’s enough push to get you into some nice ones. This is an advanced spot, and with that size, it’s not for beginners. Tuesday morning is also a strong option – 4ft south swell, 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The energy is a bit lower at 583, but the wave quality will be there. Crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might have a few out, but nothing hectic.
Before that, the 13th of September has some size – 10ft on the Sunday morning and 8ft on the afternoon – but the wind is cross-shore and messy, and the surf quality is marginal. It’s big, over 8ft, so expert only, and the wind won’t do it any favours. The 11th and 12th are just a mess of onshore wind and lumpy conditions.
After the 15th, it drops off again. The 16th has a tiny 3ft with offshore wind, but it’s ordinary. Then from the 17th onwards, it’s pretty much all cross-onshore wind and poor surf, with a couple of bigger pulses on the 21st (8ft, 18-second period) but again, the wind is ruining it. The energy on that 21st afternoon swell is huge at 3894, but with the wind howling onshore, it’s a no-go for paddle surfing.
So, bottom line: if you’re keen, pencil in Monday the 14th morning for some clean, solid waves at Rolling Stones. Tuesday the 15th morning is your backup. The rest is a long stretch of waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 19 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 6 | S 11 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 51 | 297 | 1547 | 1230 | 1098 | 500 | 327 | 182 | 108 | 77 | 52 | 76 | 943 | 1190 | 210 | 99 | 341 | 1527 | 3955 | 2559 | 1297 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | 4:12AM1.62m | 4:37PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.63m | 5:33PM1.75m | 6:03AM1.67m | 6:25PM1.75m | 6:56AM1.71m | 7:15PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | 11:19AM0.11m | 11:53PM0.14m | 12:11PM0.13m | 00:45AM0.17m | 1:02PM0.18m | 1:33AM0.22m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | 2 | 6 | 29 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 14 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 13 | S 7 | SSW 6 | ENE 9 | S 11 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 |
| kJ | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 830 | 500 | 327 | 182 | 108 | 77 | 52 | 44 | 17 | 35 | 205 | 43 | 7 | 1527 | 3955 | 2559 | 1297 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 16 | NNE 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 15 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | S 18 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | S 17 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | 37 | 20 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 31 | 78 | 52 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 76 | 34 | 45 | 158 | 20 | 4 | 963 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | N 9 | NE 16 | NE 16 | E 17 | NE 8 | E 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 21 | NE 7 | NE 9 | ENE 13 | SSW 17 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 51 | 48 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 2 | 12 | 34 | 99 | 16 | 15 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NW 3 | — | NNW 3 | SSW 19 | S 8 | SSW 7 | WNW 2 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 297 | 1547 | 1230 | 1098 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 943 | 1190 | 210 | 1 | 341 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 7 | 103 | 91 | 113 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 135 | 7 | 0 | 33 | 167 | 41 | 33 | 4 | 0 |
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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