Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with 4,081 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 12s. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for Rolling Stones over the next couple of weeks.
First thing you'll notice is the water's cold, sittin' at 53.2°, a good three degrees colder than what we normally see this time of year. So yeah, break out the thickest wetsuit you got.
The week kicks off with a bit of a wait. Wednesday morning, the 26th, we get a clean 3ft south swell coming through. It's not big, but the period is long and the energy is moderate (635), with light offshore winds keeping it glassy. It's a tease, though. Thursday the 27th, the swell jumps to 5ft and then 6.5ft, but the wind turns onshore and makes a mess of it. The energy is pumping hard (1403, then 2323), but the surface is just chopped up. Not the one.
Friday the 28th, the wind goes offshore, and we get 5ft in the morning, cleaning up to 4.2ft in the afternoon. It's shaping up nicely, but it's starting to drop. Saturday the 29th is similar, still clean but only around 3ft, and it's just losing its power. Sunday is flat and not worth your time.
Now, here’s the big one. Monday the 31st, we see a serious SSW swell start to build. It hits 8ft by the afternoon, then blows up to 9.8ft on Tuesday the 1st of September. We're talking serious, heavy, expert-only surf here. The energy readings are massive (3674, 4176), but the wind is cross-shore, so it’s not going to be clean. Just raw power.
The two days I'd really focus on are Wednesday the 2nd and Friday the 4th.
Wednesday the 2nd, you've got 8ft of south swell with the wind swinging offshore from the WNW. It’s still a big, powerful wave, but the surface will be clean. The energy is huge (3393). Definitely only for the experienced.
Then Friday the 4th is the other standout. In the morning, you get a clean 3.5ft of long-period south groundswell with light offshore winds. That’s a beautiful wave. The afternoon, though, is where it gets serious, jumping to 8ft with a very long, 19-second period and massive energy (4315). The wind will be cross-off, which helps hold the face open. This long-period swell on a reef like this is going to be deep, fast, and absolutely pumping.
After that, it fades out. The
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the W on Sun night, calm by Mon afternoon). | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 16 | S 17 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 5 | SSW 11 | S 14 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 535 | 443 | 1561 | 2299 | 1571 | 780 | 543 | 290 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 110 | 50 | 114 | 1994 | 4081 | 2473 | 1299 | 1113 | 1132 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:13PM1.49m | 4:33AM1.38m | 4:59PM1.50m | 5:22AM1.41m | 5:47PM1.53m | 6:11AM1.46m | 6:33PM1.57m | 6:58AM1.52m | 7:20PM1.62m | 7:44AM1.59m | 8:05PM1.66m | 8:29AM1.65m | 8:52PM1.69m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:29PM0.39m | 10:48AM0.36m | 11:15PM0.34m | 11:32AM0.32m | 00:03AM0.30m | 12:17PM0.28m | 00:49AM0.26m | 1:02PM0.25m | 1:35AM0.24m | 1:48PM0.24m | 2:20AM0.23m | 2:37PM0.24m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 11 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 15 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 17 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 6 | ENE 9 | S 11 | S 14 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 535 | 443 | 1561 | 2299 | 1571 | 780 | 543 | 290 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 110 | 37 | 29 | 1412 | 4081 | 2473 | 1299 | 1113 | 1132 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | ENE 5 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | S 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 26 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 7 | 27 | 24 | 34 | 36 | 50 | 19 | 15 | 28 | 9 | 21 | 19 | 17 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | E 10 | ESE 11 | — | E 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | NW 5 | SSW 12 | S 16 | S 15 | SE 12 | NE 9 | SE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | S 21 |
| kJ | 4 | 2 | 12 | — | 5 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 17 | 6 | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 2 | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | N 3 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SSW 3 | SW 5 | WNW 3 | SW 5 | SSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | 31 | 26 | 3 | 52 | 61 | 27 | 3 | 23 | 1 | 114 | 1994 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 55 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 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.
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