
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 15s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 15s period, S swell with 15,573 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period with E 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s 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 6.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 2.1m 7s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 14th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming up for Rolling Stones. It's a solid reef break, but not one for the faint-hearted.
The next week and a half is a bit of a mixed bag, with a lot of choppy, messy conditions to work through before we get to the real prize. The water is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than we usually see this time of year, so you'll want the extra rubber.
The first few days are a write-off. Wednesday the 12th through to the end of the following week is mostly junk. We've got a brief window of flat, glassy conditions on Friday morning the 14th, but the swell is only 2ft and weak (69). Don't get excited. Saturday the 15th morning has a little bump of 5ft from the east, but it's still ordinary. Then Sunday the 16th gets ugly with a strong 12ft southerly swell but howling cross-onshore winds, making a total mess of things. The combined energy is a massive 2250, but it's unsurfable. That messy, onshore pattern drags through the middle of the following week.
Now, here's the standout. For the experienced crew, mark your calendar for Thursday, 20 August. The morning session is where it's at. We've got a clean 10ft south swell with a solid 13-second period (2638 combined energy), light offshore winds from the west, and clear skies. That's a proper groundswell at a reef, and it's going to be lined up. It's big, well over 8ft, so it's experts only, but the conditions are excellent. The wind is light and offshore, so it'll be clean.
Friday the 21st is also a good option, with a consistent 6ft south swell (916) and clean cross-offshore winds from the north. It's a step down in size, making it more manageable for strong intermediates, and still very good.
The following Saturday morning, 22 August, is another one to watch. It's a touch smaller at 6ft, but the period is a very long 15 seconds, and the wind is glassy. That's a long-period groundswell, and at this reef, it'll be pure perfection, but again, for the experienced surfer.
For the rest of the second week, it tails off into small, clean but weak surf. The morning of Wednesday, 26 August, has a tiny 2ft swell, and the afternoon turns glassy with a 3ft south swell from a 16-second period. It'll be clean, but small.
So, the play is clear: if you're a keen surfer, hold out for the Thursday 20th morning for the biggest, cleanest swell, or the Friday 21st for a slightly smaller but still excellent session. The crowds are only "sometimes" an issue here, so you might get some waves to yourself.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Sat night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat morning, strong winds from the SSW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
245 | 416 | 242 | 155 | 66 | 67 | 50 | 88 | 173 | 228 | 160 | 350 | 2182 | 2079 | 1095 | 612 | 1010 | 880 | 418 | 371 | 4100 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:56PM1.86m | 5:26AM1.71m | 5:54PM1.87m | 6:24AM1.72m | 6:49PM1.87m | 7:19AM1.73m | 7:41PM1.84m | 8:11AM1.75m | 8:31PM1.81m | 9:00AM1.76m | 9:21PM1.76m | 9:46AM1.75m | 10:10PM1.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:43AM0.10m | 11:18PM0.11m | 11:39AM0.06m | 00:16AM0.09m | 12:32PM0.05m | 1:11AM0.09m | 1:24PM0.08m | 2:02AM0.11m | 2:17PM0.13m | 2:51AM0.16m | 3:09PM0.20m | 3:39AM0.22m | 4:01PM0.28m | ||||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | |
mm | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 9 | — | — | 15 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 16 | S 17 | SE 14 | S 9 | S 8 | SE 10 | SE 12 |
245 | 416 | 242 | 155 | 66 | 67 | 168 | 88 | 173 | 228 | 160 | 92 | 65 | 65 | 9 | 215 | 32 | 580 | 277 | 65 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 14 | SE 8 | NE 7 | SE 12 | ESE 13 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | NE 8 | SE 15 | SE 14 | S 15 | S 13 | E 8 | — |
8 | 39 | 52 | 28 | 42 | 18 | 50 | 28 | 36 | 17 | 38 | 82 | 53 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 31 | 212 | 130 | 6 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 16 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 16 | ESE 14 | ESE 8 | SSE 8 | S 16 | S 18 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 9 | SE 15 | S 12 | — | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | — |
6 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 37 | 7 | 21 | 25 | 27 | 15 | 55 | 9 | 11 | — | 43 | 24 | 13 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 7 | — | E 7 | W 3 | SW 3 | SSW 6 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 11 |
4 | 17 | 23 | 31 | 66 | 241 | 412 | — | 134 | 3 | 3 | 350 | 2182 | 2079 | 1095 | 612 | 1010 | 880 | 418 | 371 | 4100 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 135 | 93 | 91 | 91 | 167 | 33 | 41 | 113 | 1 |
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.











