
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 12s period, SSW swell with 4,343 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 9s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 9s period. 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 4.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 13ft (4.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a proper look at the forecast for Rolling Stones. It’s a reef set-up, so when it gets good, it gets proper good, but it’s a fickle beast. Right now, there’s a bit of a lull to start, but there are some serious pulses of energy on the horizon that are gonna have your heart racing. The water’s sitting at 55.2°F, which is a touch cooler than usual for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll want the hood and gloves on.
The next couple of days are pretty gutless. Saturday the 5th is looking tiny, with ankle-biters around 2.3ft and a short-period SSW swell. There’s not enough push to make this place work. Sunday the 6th is a little better, with a similar size but a longer period, pushing the energy up to a moderate 125. It’s surfable but nothing to write home about.
Then Monday the 7th drops right off again, and we’re looking at a flat spell until the next weekend. This is where the patience test comes in. The ocean goes quiet, with just dribbles of swell and not enough power to break this reef properly. It’s a waiting game.
But hold on, because things are about to change. On Tuesday the 8th, the ocean wakes up with a vengeance. We’re looking at a solid 8.2ft of south swell, and the energy jumps to a strong 1891. The problem is the wind is all over it – cross-onshore and choppy. It’s going to be a messy, lumpy power keg. This is more for the tow-in crew or maybe the kitesurfers, because paddling into that mess on a reef is not my idea of a good time. The period is short too, around 9 seconds, so it’ll be a bit disorganised.
Wednesday the 9th pulls it back a notch with 4.9ft and clean conditions from a light NE wind. The energy is moderate at 331, but the short 8-second period means it could be a bit walled. It’s an option, but not the stand-out of the window.
The following week is where the real magic lies. The 13th and 14th see solid, powerful southwest groundswell filling in. We’re talking 8.2ft on the 13th with a 13-second period and a strong 2235 energy. It’s going to be big, clean, and powerful. This is proper expert territory. Then, on Tuesday the 15th of September, is the one that has me grinning. The forecast is for 6.9ft of south swell at a very long 15-second period. The wind is light offshore from the WNW, and the energy is a thumping 2012. This is the one. Long-period groundswell on a reef like this is what it’s all about. It’ll be grinding, hollow, and absolutely perfect for the advanced crew. The afternoon glassed off completely, dropping to 5.6ft but with that long period still in the water. That’s your best window.
The 20th also looks like a fun one, with 8.2ft to 9.8ft of south swell and light winds. It’s a bit more short-period, but still has plenty of push. Keep an eye on that one as it gets closer.
So, to sum it up: the start is flat, the middle is a messy, blown-out building phase, but the real prize is the 15th. That Tuesday morning looks like the standout – big, long-period groundswell and offshore winds at a classic reef. It’s a session you’ll be talking about for a while. Everything after that is promising, but that’s the one to circle on the calendar.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat morning, fresh winds from the W by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | SSW 7 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | S 17 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSW 13 | SW 7 | S 18 | S 19 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
80 | 41 | 92 | 100 | 104 | 147 | 51 | 44 | 1635 | 1021 | 842 | 627 | 331 | 250 | 133 | 66 | 37 | 35 | 371 | 248 | 178 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:09PM0.23m | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | 7:26AM0.19m | 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 | ||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | |
— | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 9 | SSW 7 | S 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 17 | SSW 10 | NE 5 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SW 5 | S 20 | SSW 6 | S 19 |
80 | 41 | 92 | 100 | 38 | 147 | 36 | 16 | 1382 | 861 | 627 | 627 | 331 | 250 | 133 | 66 | 37 | 11 | 194 | 78 | 178 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | SSW 9 | S 12 | S 18 | SSW 18 | E 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 10 | — | S 15 | S 15 | NE 9 | ENE 7 | E 15 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 7 | SE 8 | ENE 9 | S 18 | S 12 |
17 | 28 | 78 | 25 | 104 | 2 | 51 | 33 | — | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 248 | 72 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | S 15 | NE 4 | NE 4 | E 10 | S 8 | — | S 16 | — | E 16 | NE 16 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | S 21 | E 14 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 8 | ENE 13 |
2 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 44 | — | 5 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 35 | 17 | 7 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 3 | — | NW 2 | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | N 4 | NNE 5 | NW 4 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | — | — | NE 9 | NNE 5 | WNW 2 | NW 2 | WNW 3 | SW 7 | W 4 | SW 6 |
2 | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 45 | 10 | 1635 | 1021 | 842 | — | — | 19 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 371 | 10 | 116 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 33 | 88 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 47 | 1 | 412 |
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.










