Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 01 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.6°C
1.0° 

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 1 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 8 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,863 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be 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 Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Tue 1st Sep)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 1st Sep)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Most Powerful12AM (Tue 8th Sep)18ft (5.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Right, grab a coffee. Rusty here.

Right off the bat, we have one spot on the radar: Rolling Stones. It’s an advanced reef break, so not for the faint-hearted, and it’s fairly consistent. The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is about 3° colder than average for this time of year – that’s a noticeable chill, so grab the extra rubber.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag. Tuesday morning is a write-off with a messy 12ft SSW swell, cross winds, and that rain. The energy is massive though, coming in at a solid 5907 (strong wave energy), but it's all over the place. Tuesday afternoon drops to 10ft, but it’s still cross-on.

Then we get our first real window. Wednesday, 2nd September morning is the standout of the first week. You’ve got a clean 8ft S swell, that beautiful NNW offshore wind at just 10 km/h, and a period of 14 seconds. The combined energy is a very solid 3076 (strong wave energy). The report calls it excellent for experienced surfers, and I’m inclined to agree – this is the one to circle. It’s a bit big for beginners at over 8ft though.

Thursday morning (3rd) is still clean, with a 6ft S swell and offshore winds, but the energy drops to 976 (moderate). It’s surfable, but not the same quality as Wednesday.

From Friday (4th) through to Monday (7th September), it goes pretty dead. We’re looking at tiny waves, dropping to 1ft with strong cross-onshore winds and rain on Monday. That's a solid 3-4 day gap with nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting again. Tuesday, 8th September rolls in with a massive 15ft SSW swell – the energy is a whopping 10303 (very strong wave energy). The wind is light cross-shore, but at that size, with a 12-second period and poor conditions noted due to tide, this is strictly for the experts. The afternoon remains big at 12ft.

Wednesday, 9th September morning is another good look. Clean 10ft S swell with a 14-second period, light cross-off winds. The energy is 3883 (very strong wave energy). Again, over 8ft, so only for the skilled crew.

After that, the second week fades a bit. You get a few clean days with offshore winds (10th, 11th, 12th September) but the swell drops under 7ft, and the energy is moderate. Tuesday, 15th September is mostly poor with small, lumpy windswell.

But then, Wednesday, 16th September morning is a promising long-range call. Glassy conditions, a 10ft S groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds – that’s the real deal for a reef like Rolling Stones. The energy is a massive 4028 (very strong wave energy). It’s only a promise at this stage, 9 days out, but if it holds, it will be firing for the experts.

So, the best on offer is undeniably Wednesday, 2nd September morning for the first quality window, and for the real heavyweights, Wednesday, 16th September morning is the distant one to dream on.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Sat afternoon, fresh winds from the SSW by Mon morning).

Tue
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
4
4
3
2
1
1
0
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
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
12
3.5
S
14
2.4
S
14
2.5
S
17
2.3
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.4
S
13
1
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.4
S
10
0.5
SSW
9
0.6
S
8
0.7
S
9
0.7
SSW
10
0.5
S
9
0.3
SSW
17
0.3
SSW
16
1.5
SW
5
5.5
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2770
3953
2073
4137
2155
1077
623
276
146
72
29
45
50
83
96
43
59
52
115
8863
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
NW
10
NNW
10
ENE
15
WNW
10
NW
10
ENE
20
NW
20
NW
25
NW
15
WNW
15
W
10
ESE
10
N
15
NNW
20
N
20
NW
25
WNW
40
SW
45
SW
Wind State
cross-on
off
off
cross
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:52PM1.69m
9:13AM1.70m
9:40PM1.69m
9:59AM1.73m
10:30PM1.68m
10:50AM1.74m
11:22PM1.67m
11:46AM1.74m
00:17AM1.65m
12:46PM1.73m
1:15AM1.63m
1:45PM1.73m
2:15AM1.61m
Low Tide
3:05AM0.23m
3:28PM0.25m
3:52AM0.23m
4:20PM0.25m
4:42AM0.24m
5:13PM0.25m
5:34AM0.23m
6:09PM0.23m
6:29AM0.21m
7:08PM0.21m
7:26AM0.19m
8:07PM0.18m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
light rain
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
 mm
3
1
1
Temp °C
10
9
15
17
13
18
18
15
17
17
13
15
15
11
15
16
15
13
10
10
Feels °C
6
6
13
15
10
16
15
11
12
13
9
12
12
7
11
13
13
7
2
0
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  • 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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