Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 06 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
13.0°C
0.8° 

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 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 16s period, SSW swell with 13,904 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 10s period with SSW 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 Sunday (Sep 06) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 18s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.0m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Sun 6th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 10s
Best Surf 9AM (Sun 13th Sep)18ft (5.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Sun 13th Sep)18ft (5.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get stuck into the outlook for Rolling Stones.

The next couple of weeks start off pretty flat and messy, but don’t you worry – there’s a serious pulse of southern groundswell coming that will wake this reef right up. You’ll need to sit tight through the early part, because the good stuff is a solid week away. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about, just standard winter-warming leggie weather.

We kick off on Sunday the 6th with tiny waves. The morning gives us a weak 2ft SSW swell at 10 seconds, clean enough under a light offshore, but the wave energy is low (127). It’s just ordinary. The afternoon stays anemic with 1ft of long-period groundswell, but it’s still clean. Monday the 7th is a write-off – the swell drops out and the wind goes ugly. Tuesday the 8th sees some bump in size with a short-period 6ft SSE swell, but it’s onshore and choppy – not worth a paddle.

Wednesday the 9th looks a bit better. The morning has a clean 5ft SE swell with a cross-offshore breeze. The combined energy is moderate (322), and the waves should be surfable. It’s still not a standout, but a step in the right direction. Thursday the 10th is tiny again with barely any energy.

The weekend of the 11th and 12th is a hard pass. Strong cross-shore winds and lumpy, short-period swell… honestly, this would be more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s a mess.

Now, here’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. The real standout hits on Monday the 14th. This is the best day on offer. Rolling Stones is a fairly consistent reef break, though crowds are possible, and it’s an advanced spot. On Monday morning, a solid 12ft S groundswell with a 13-second period rolls in. The combined wave energy is massive (4509). The wind is a light offshore from the west, keeping the faces clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – big, powerful, and well-shaped. The afternoon goes glassy with a 3 mph breeze from the southeast. That calm surface will make it even cleaner. This is a true highlight.

Tuesday the 15th is still pumping, but a step down. The morning has 7ft of S swell at 12 seconds, still clean, with moderate energy (1193). Very good waves, but the wind is a touch lighter. Afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-breeze. Wednesday the 16th offers smaller, cleaner 5ft to 5ft S swell, still with a decent period, but it’s backing off.

Thursday the 17th gets blown out again by strong cross-shore winds. Skip it.

Friday the 18th is another good one. The morning brings 8ft S swell at 10 seconds, clean with a light offshore. The energy is solid (1178). Good waves for the skilled crew.

The second weekend holds promise. Saturday the 19th sees a hefty 15ft SSW swell, but the period drops to 10 seconds. The combined energy is huge (4026), and with a moderate cross-offshore wind, it will be clean. This is big, powerful stuff – only for experts. It’s a long-range call, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but the potential is there.

The week closes out with a smaller, cleaner 6ft S swell on Sunday the 20th morning, and a clean 4ft S swell on Monday the 21st morning.

So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly a write-off. The big standouts are Monday the 14th and Saturday the 19th. If you’re an advanced surfer, those are the days to circle. The 14th is the pick for me – excellent conditions, long period, and glassy afternoon.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, light winds from the WNW by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, strong winds from the WSW by Thu night).

Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
SSW
10
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
S
17
0.3
SSW
16
1.1
S
6
2.2
SSE
8
2.2
SW
6
2.3
SSW
7
2.2
S
8
1.5
SSE
8
1.3
SSE
8
0.9
SE
7
0.7
SE
7
0.6
SE
7
0.3
S
16
1.8
SSW
6
0.6
S
18
0.6
S
18
2.1
SW
8
1.7
SSW
7
1.9
SSW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
102
104
147
51
72
645
384
479
558
256
187
89
48
30
46
229
248
230
557
297
411
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
15
NNW
20
NNW
15
NNW
25
W
40
SW
35
WSW
35
SW
20
SW
5
WSW
20
ENE
20
NW
20
WNW
20
NW
30
WSW
30
WSW
15
W
25
WNW
30
W
35
WSW
35
W
Wind State
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
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
6:03AM1.67m
6:25PM1.75m
Low Tide
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
12:11PM0.13m
00:45AM0.17m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:24
6:22
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:15
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:50
5:51
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:53
5:54
 mm
6
5
2
1
2
1
Temp °C
17
17
16
17
12
11
10
11
11
12
12
11
14
15
11
12
14
13
12
11
9
Feels °C
13
13
13
15
8
5
3
4
6
9
8
7
9
11
7
5
9
7
5
3
1
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  • 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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