Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 30 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.1°C
1.5° 

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) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 3,882 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 8s 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 Monday (Aug 31) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 8s 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 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) 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 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Mon 31st Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 8s
Best Surf 3PM (Wed 2nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 17s
Most Powerful 3PM (Wed 2nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line here. The main event is a classic southern groundswell aimed straight at Rolling Stones, a reef setup that loves that S direction. It’s a bit of a slow start, but once it kicks, it kicks proper.

The first few days are flat or messy. Sunday the 30th is a write-off – tiny, weak swell and a cross wind. Nothing doing. Monday the 31st is where things start to wake up. Monday morning brings a 3 ft S swell with a very long 17-second period. The combined energy is already strong (548), and with a light cross-off breeze, it’ll be clean. This is a promising warm-up, but the real standout is Monday afternoon. The swell jumps to 7 ft from the south, period a solid 14 seconds, and wave energy hits 1492. The wind is a moderate cross-off from the west, so it’ll be clean and powerful. That’s a solid, solid session for advanced surfers – this reef can handle that size, and the long period will give it proper shape and grind.

Tuesday the 1st gets tricky. Morning has 8 ft S swell but a fresh cross-on shore, making it lumpy. Afternoon pushes to 10 ft, but again cross-on and choppy. Not the one.

Now the absolute pick of the window: Wednesday the 2nd. Wednesday morning serves up 8 ft of S swell (13 seconds, 2219 energy) with offshore wind from the NNW – clean. But Wednesday afternoon is the magic moment: 8 ft S swell, very long 17 seconds, and glassy conditions with virtually no wind. The combined energy hits 4235. That is serious power, ridiculous period, and perfect conditions. This is a proper reef dredger, only for experienced surfers. It’ll be a standout session, but be aware – crowds are sometimes a thing here, so get out early.

Thursday the 3rd drops back to 6 ft and 4 ft, still clean cross-off winds but less power. Friday the 4th has offshore winds and 4 ft S swell for the morning, surfable and clean. From Saturday the 5th onwards, the swell fades fast into tiny, weak surf. There’s a gap of poor or tiny waves from the 5th through to the 12th of September, with energy dropping below 100. A little blip on the 6th with 4 ft S swell and offshore wind gives a clean but small morning session, and the 13th has a brief 3 ft pulse but with short period (8 seconds) and poor conditions. After that, it’s pretty much done.

The water temperature is about average for this time of year. No big anomaly to report.

So, if you’re chasing the good stuff, your window is Monday the 31st afternoon, but the absolute best is Wednesday the 2nd – especially that glassy afternoon session. It’s a short, sharp hit of excellence.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
3
0
2
4
4
5
2
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
S
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SSW
10
0.9
S
17
1.8
S
14
2.5
SSW
13
2.5
S
13
2.5
S
12
3
S
13
2.4
S
13
2.5
S
17
2.3
S
15
1.6
S
13
1.2
S
13
0.9
S
12
1.1
S
10
0.9
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.7
SSW
9
0.7
SSW
8
0.7
S
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
78
34
32
465
1208
2490
2356
2017
2672
1952
3882
2338
878
466
224
254
154
85
82
68
69
Wind (km/h)
10
WSW
20
SW
15
W
25
WNW
30
WNW
20
WSW
35
SSW
15
SSW
10
NNW
15
NW
5
ENE
25
WNW
30
NW
20
WNW
20
WNW
25
WNW
20
WNW
15
W
10
WNW
5
ENE
15
NW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
High Tide
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
11:46AM1.74m
00:17AM1.65m
Low Tide
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
5:34AM0.23m
6:09PM0.23m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
light rain
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:49
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
15
16
13
16
17
13
12
8
8
16
17
14
17
18
16
18
19
15
15
17
13
Feels °C
12
12
10
9
11
8
5
5
6
14
15
8
12
14
13
13
15
10
12
15
9
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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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