Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 29 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.5°C
1.1° 

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 29 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, S swell with 5,166 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 15s. 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 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Sun 30th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 11s
Best Surf 3PM (Wed 2nd Sep)10ft (3.0m) 17s
Most Powerful 6PM (Wed 2nd Sep)10ft (3.0m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the waves for Rolling Stones, a solid reef break that’s pretty consistent and needs a solid southerly swell to fire. The water's running a bit cooler than usual right now, sitting at 55°F, about 2°F colder than average for this time of year, so you might want a hood.

Okay, so the next few days aren’t screaming at us. Saturday and Sunday are flat or close to it, with knee-high slop and poor winds. Not worth paddling out. The real action starts to build from Monday the 31st of August.

Monday the 31st sees a pulse of long-period groundswell, coming in from the south at about 3ft with a period of 17 seconds. That’s a long wait between sets, but the energy is moderate (617). The morning is clean with a light cross-off shore breeze from the west, so it could be fun for a keen surfer on a bigger board. It’s still small though.

The energy really pours in on Tuesday morning the 1st of September, but the wind switches to a messy cross-onshore from the SSW at 16 mph. The swell jumps to 8ft with a moderate energy of 1961, but it’s choppy and blown out. Not the one.

Now, get ready for the standout window. Wednesday the 2nd of September is the pick of the whole run. Morning brings a big 10ft south swell with a period of 13 seconds, and the wind is offshore from the NNW at just 6 mph, giving you beautiful clean waves. The energy is strong at 3078. The afternoon is even better – glassy conditions, zero wind, with the same 10ft swell. That is excellent, powerful surf for experienced surfers only. This is a true standout.

Thursday the 3rd of September continues good with a 7ft south swell in the morning, but the wind picks up to a cross-offshore from the WNW, keeping the surface clean. Energy is still strong at 1585. By the afternoon it drops a bit to 5ft, still very surfable.

Things fade into the weekend. Friday the 4th is small and windy. Saturday the 5th of September offers a little window: a clean, glassy morning with a 6ft south swell and light northerly wind. The wave period is short, just 10 seconds, but it’s clean and fun.

After that, we get a long stretch of small, unremarkable waves through the middle of the month, with only a few knee-high days that are just okay.

Looking way ahead, Thursday the 10th of September has a monster showing in the afternoon forecast: a massive 15ft swell from the SSW with a period of 14 seconds, and energy readings through the roof at 14373. The wind is a moderate cross-offshore, keeping it clean, but that is only for experts and will be incredibly powerful. There’s a window on the morning of the 10th too, with a 7ft south-southwest swell, a short period of 7 seconds, and clean offshore winds. That one is surfable, but the afternoon is the massive one if you have the skill.

Friday the 11th gets trashed by strong cross-onshore winds and big surf, and then we just fade out into small, poor conditions for the rest of the run.

So, to boil it down: Wednesday the 2nd of September is your absolute standout – big, clean, empty. Saturday the 5th of September morning is a fun, smaller alternative, and the 10th of September afternoon is a serious, heavy-water session for the brave. Get on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 12°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat night, fresh winds from the WNW by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 6°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
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
2
3
1
0
0
4
4
5
2
3
2
1
0
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)
0.9
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.4
SSW
13
0.9
S
17
2.1
S
13
2
S
13
2.5
SSW
13
1.6
S
13
3
S
12
3
S
13
3
S
17
2.5
S
16
2
S
14
1.5
S
13
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
11
1.5
SSW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
216
202
154
78
51
58
454
1567
1376
1961
835
2466
3078
4927
3573
1585
760
339
205
112
330
Wind (km/h)
15
N
15
N
15
NNE
10
WSW
20
SW
25
W
10
W
15
WSW
35
WNW
25
SSW
25
SW
10
NW
10
NNW
5
ENE
25
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
25
NW
20
WNW
30
WNW
10
SW
Wind State
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
High Tide
6:33PM1.57m
6:58AM1.52m
7:20PM1.62m
7:44AM1.59m
8:05PM1.66m
8:29AM1.65m
8:52PM1.69m
9:13AM1.70m
9:40PM1.69m
9:59AM1.73m
10:30PM1.68m
10:50AM1.74m
11:22PM1.67m
Low Tide
12:17PM0.28m
00:49AM0.26m
1:02PM0.25m
1:35AM0.24m
1:48PM0.24m
2:20AM0.23m
2:37PM0.24m
3:05AM0.23m
3:28PM0.25m
3:52AM0.23m
4:20PM0.25m
4:42AM0.24m
5:13PM0.25m
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
light rain
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
 mm
1
1
5
2
Temp °C
17
17
13
15
16
14
14
16
13
9
8
7
13
14
13
18
18
15
19
19
15
Feels °C
15
15
11
12
12
8
10
11
6
4
2
3
11
13
8
13
14
12
14
14
13
  • 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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