
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 4 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 8 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 10s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, SSE swell with 3,484 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. 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 4.0m 10s 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 1.9m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 6th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 10th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for Rolling Stones. This is a mean reef setup that needs a good S'ly swell, and it's fairly consistent, but it's advanced territory. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Right now, the surf is pretty flat. Sunday the 5th has some small 3ft E swell but the wind is a messy cross-off, making for poor conditions. Monday the 6th is a write-off with tiny, weak swell and onshore wind. We're looking at a quiet start to the week.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Tuesday morning the 7th, the swell bumps up to 6ft from the east, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That combined swell energy reads moderate at (660), and it'll be clean. This is a good window for a wave, but at 6ft and with a 10-second period, the sets will have some push for advanced surfers.
Wednesday the 8th keeps the swell cranking around 7ft from the ESE with an 11-second period, giving it a bit more grunt (1130). The wind is cross, so not perfect, but it's manageable. It's a solid option for those who know the reef.
It gets ugly from Thursday the 9th through Saturday the 12th. Strong cross-onshore winds, lots of rain, and swell pumping over 10ft up to 13ft. That's big, messy, and dangerous – only for the lunatics or the kitesurfers, because it'll be a washing machine with combined energy up to (3419).
We get a breather Monday the 13th. Swell drops to 5ft from the SE, but the wind is light cross-off. Clean conditions, expect good surf. Tuesday the 14th has tiny 2ft glassy conditions in the afternoon, with a very long 14-second period from the ESE. That will be clean but small – a cruiser board kind of day (415).
Then the wind turns on Wednesday the 15th again, with fresh cross-onshore and 10ft S swell. Messy, blown out, not worth it.
The standout window is on Thursday the 17th of July. The morning has a 7ft SE groundswell with a 15-second period, and the wind is offshore from the north. That combined swell energy is very strong at (2455). It'll be excellent, but that's big, powerful, and straight-shooting – best for experienced surfers on the reef. Friday the 18th also looks promising with 7ft SE swell and a light cross-off, still excellent shapes. Saturday the 19th afternoon also shows 8ft from the south with a clean cross-off, another good call for experienced crew.
So, the best of the bunch is Thursday the 17th of July. Clean, strong, powerful swell, correct direction, and offshore wind. It's a real gem. After that, the swell sticks around but the wind gets messy again. We have a blank run from now until Tuesday the 7th, then again from the 9th to the 12th. The long-range window around the 17th is promising but keep an eye on it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Fri afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 10 | S 17 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
200 | 6 | 263 | 304 | 541 | 407 | 518 | 710 | 1010 | 1060 | 833 | 561 | 543 | 1013 | 1386 | 2364 | 3355 | 3314 | 2900 | 2780 | 2423 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:24AM1.48m | 9:44PM1.57m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:27PM0.35m | 4:02AM0.31m | 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 | ||||||||
7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 4:58 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 10 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ENE 7 | E 9 | E 9 | S 20 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 10 | ESE 10 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SSW 20 | SSW 18 |
200 | 261 | 263 | 304 | 31 | 407 | 518 | 710 | 1010 | 1060 | 833 | 561 | 543 | 1013 | 408 | 158 | 376 | 1865 | 1636 | 80 | 174 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 16 | ESE 10 | S 19 | NE 8 | — | — | SSW 15 | — | — |
3 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 109 | 57 | 77 | 64 | 45 | 44 | 115 | 48 | 502 | 66 | 10 | — | — | 87 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | — | S 15 | S 22 | SSW 13 | S 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | 5 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 97 | 86 | 80 | 68 | 60 | 48 | 53 | 85 | 75 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 9 | E 9 | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 8 | — | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
136 | 308 | 189 | 513 | 541 | 229 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 266 | — | 1386 | 2364 | 3355 | 3314 | 2900 | 2780 | 2423 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 47 | 65 | 93 | 167 | 169 | 169 | 113 |
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.










