Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Issued: 5 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
13.2° C

1.2°C colder than average for this time of year

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 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 11s period, S swell with 4,261 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 9s 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 4.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.3m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 7th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 7th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 9s
Most Powerful 6PM (Fri 10th Jul)15ft (4.5m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, let's get into it.

Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag here at Rolling Stones. This is a reef break that's fairly consistent, but we're going to see some serious swings in the forecast. The water is running a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 56°, so you might want the thicker rubber.

The first real chance of a decent session kicks off on Tuesday afternoon, July 7th. We've got a clean 6ft swell from the east, with a period of 10 seconds. The wind is glassy, so those waves will be smooth as silk. The combined energy is getting up there at 803, a solid moderate push.

Wednesday morning, July 8th, looks a bit messier with a cross-shore wind on 7ft east-southeast swell, but the energy is ramping up to 972. The highlight of the first week is definitely that Tuesday afternoon glass-off. It's an advanced wave, so be ready for a reef bottom.

Then things get pretty wild. From Thursday the 9th afternoon through the weekend, we get hammered. A big south-southeast swell kicks in, hitting 15ft on Friday the 10th with onshore winds screaming at 25 mph. Combined energy is massive at 3908, but it's completely blown out. That's kite-surfing stuff, not paddle surfing. This messy, blown-out pattern carries right through the weekend.

We get a bit of a break on Monday the 13th with a cleaner 5ft southeast swell in the morning, and again on Tuesday the 14th with a nice 4ft to 4ft easterly swell and light offshore winds. Those Tuesday sessions will be clean.

Now, the big one to watch is way out there. On Saturday, July 18th, the swell jumps to 10ft from the south, and conditions are clean with a cross-offshore breeze. The energy is a strong 2250. This is for experienced surfers only. But the real monster is Sunday the 19th. We're looking at a 21ft south swell with a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is 16923 – that's extreme. The wind is light and favorable, but this is too big for this break, even for the most advanced crew. The period is so long it'll be breaking straight and heavy over the reef.

After that, the swell drops but stays solid through to Tuesday the 21st, but winds switch onshore, making it a marginal prospect. That Sunday the 19th swell is the standout in the whole forecast, but only if you're watching from the cliff.

Stay safe out there.
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 35mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the SW on Thu morning, strong winds from the S by Fri morning).

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
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
0
3
1
3
2
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
E
9
0.2
S
20
1.6
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.8
E
10
2
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
2
ESE
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
2.4
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
4.5
SSE
10
4.5
S
10
4
SSE
11
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
9
2.3
SE
10
2.1
SE
10
1.9
SSE
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
263
31
417
434
640
698
850
810
637
480
1124
2927
3908
3770
3195
2039
1677
950
978
916
591
Wind (km/h)
15
NNE
10
E
5
WNW
5
WSW
5
SSW
10
WSW
15
SW
15
SSW
20
SSW
15
SW
15
SSW
40
S
40
S
40
SSW
35
SSW
30
SSW
30
S
20
S
20
S
15
S
5
SSW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
glassy
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
High Tide
10:05AM1.50m
10:30PM1.58m
10:48AM1.53m
11:16PM1.60m
11:34AM1.57m
00:04AM1.63m
12:26PM1.63m
00:54AM1.67m
1:22PM1.70m
1:49AM1.70m
2:19PM1.77m
2:46AM1.73m
3:16PM1.84m
Low Tide
4:14PM0.35m
4:46AM0.31m
5:01PM0.35m
5:32AM0.31m
5:49PM0.35m
6:18AM0.31m
6:42PM0.36m
7:07AM0.30m
7:39PM0.34m
8:00AM0.29m
8:39PM0.30m
8:58AM0.26m
9:39PM0.25m
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
rain showers
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:01
 mm
2
9
1
4
3
13
5
2
4
2
2
4
3
Temp °C
14
11
10
11
11
10
11
12
12
13
13
12
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
11
10
Feels °C
10
9
9
10
10
9
8
10
9
10
10
6
3
2
3
4
3
5
6
7
7
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
E
9
1.7
ENE
9
1.6
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.8
E
10
2
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
2
ESE
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
0.3
S
16
0.4
SSW
15
0.1
NE
9
0.6
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
15
0.4
SSW
14
0.6
S
18
2.3
SE
10
2.1
SE
10
1.9
SSE
9
Energy kJ
263
474
417
434
640
698
850
810
637
480
46
85
3
186
75
69
230
978
916
591
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
14
0.2
S
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
10
0.6
SSW
10
0.6
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.6
S
8
0.8
SSW
7
0.3
S
17
0.5
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
19
0.1
NE
7
0.2
S
22
0.3
SSW
20
0.5
S
18
0.7
S
16
0.6
S
15
0.6
S
14
Energy kJ
4
31
109
59
77
67
54
44
73
49
142
74
2
36
76
165
251
159
146
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
22
0.1
S
13
0.5
S
18
0.4
SSW
17
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
16
0.2
SSW
11
0.8
SSW
14
Energy kJ
9
3
165
97
86
81
68
60
53
107
11
265
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
ENE
9
0.9
SSE
7
1.5
S
10
2.4
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
4.5
SSE
10
4.5
S
10
4
SSE
11
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
2.4
SSE
9
0.9
SSW
7
Energy kJ
475
91
431
1124
2927
3908
3770
3195
2039
1677
950
84
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
3
3
3
Distance (km)
1
11
0
1
0
1
1
1
11
7
11
162
162
93
93
93
113
84
11
11
1
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
2
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
7
5
4
6
5
5
4
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
9
5
5
6
5
8
5
5
8
6
5
5
  • Map Icons:
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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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