Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 23s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, S swell with 5,960 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m 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 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 23s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, lookin’ at the forecast for Rolling Stones. This one’s a proper reef setup, advanced only, and it’s fairly consistent, so when it’s on, it’s on. Crowds can pop up sometimes, but that’s the price for a wave this good.
The water’s sittin’ around average for the time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
We’ve got a solid run of swell coming through, but the real standout is Sunday the 19th morning. We’re talking a 7ft southerly swell with a 18-second period – that’s proper groundswell, heaps of energy (3233 – strong wave energy) and light westerly cross-offshore winds. That’s gonna be clean, powerful, and line up beautifully on the reef. Get on it early.
Saturday the 18th morning is a solid warm-up, 5ft southerly swell, 14-second period, with a light westerly cross-off. Clean and punchy, but the Sunday swell has more grunt.
Tuesday the 21st morning is another cracker – 8ft of southerly swell, 16-second period, and glassy winds. That’s a heap of water (2957 – strong wave energy), and it’ll be glassy clean. For the experienced crew, this is a dream session.
Things get a bit average from the 22nd onwards, with smaller swells and less favourable winds. The weekend of the 25th and 26th is a write-off – strong winds, messy, and poor conditions. We’ve got a gap of about three days there with nothing worth paddling out for.
Then we see a flicker of hope on the 28th July morning – 5ft southerly, 12-second period, light westerly cross-off, and clean (715 – moderate wave energy). It’s not the size of the previous week, but it’s workable.
The first week of August looks pretty flat and small, nothing to get excited about until the 2nd August morning brings a 5ft SSW swell, a short 9-second period, glassy calm, and clean conditions. It’s a small day, but sometimes those glassy sessions are the most fun.
So, if you’re an advanced surfer and you want the best of the best, clear your calendar for Sunday the 19th morning and Tuesday the 21st morning. That’s where the magic is. The rest is a mixed bag, with a few decent windows if you’re keen to scratch around.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 24 | S 20 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 14 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1171 | 992 | 1344 | 4307 | 2796 | 1903 | 1452 | 1632 | 4171 | 5529 | 2860 | 1873 | 1002 | 493 | 400 | 181 | 94 | 103 | 81 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off |
High Tide | 8:36AM1.77m | 8:58PM1.88m | 9:27AM1.75m | 9:50PM1.81m | 10:17AM1.72m | 10:42PM1.74m | 11:07AM1.68m | 11:33PM1.68m | 11:59AM1.65m | 00:24AM1.62m | 12:54PM1.62m | 1:14AM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:28AM0.06m | 2:42PM0.06m | 3:21AM0.09m | 3:36PM0.13m | 4:12AM0.14m | 4:30PM0.21m | 5:02AM0.20m | 5:23PM0.29m | 5:51AM0.28m | 6:15PM0.36m | 6:39AM0.36m | 7:08PM0.42m | |||||||
 |  | | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Feels °C | 7 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 20 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 12 |
| kJ | 1171 | 992 | 776 | 4307 | 2796 | 1903 | 1452 | 1632 | 4171 | 5529 | 2860 | 1873 | 1002 | 493 | 400 | 181 | 94 | 75 | 81 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 12 | S 24 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 14 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 279 | 339 | 1344 | 637 | 437 | 363 | 244 | 169 | 167 | 101 | 97 | 59 | 66 | 29 | 28 | 112 | 63 | 103 | 22 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 19 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | S 18 | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 11 | SE 12 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 212 | 29 | 248 | — | — | — | — | 429 | 174 | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 50 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 3 | S 5 | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | — | — | WSW 4 | ENE 6 | NNE 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 5 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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.
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