Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,302 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 12s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's run through what Rolling Stones is offering up over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of real gems if you can time it right.
First thing, the water is clocking in at about 54°F, which is a bit cooler than average for this time of year—definitely time for a thick wetsuit.
The first few days, starting Monday the 17th, are a write-off. We’ve got a big 13ft S swell, but it’s getting hammered by fresh to strong cross-onshore winds out of the south. The combined wave energy is massive (3288), but the quality is totally poor and lumpy. That big southerly swell with a short period and onshore wind is just ugly. This mess carries on through Tuesday and Wednesday with similar wind and messy conditions.
We get a bit of a break on Thursday the 20th. The wind drops to a gentle breeze, still cross-shore. The swell is down to 8ft from the S, with a decent 13-second period, and the energy is still strong (4342). It's marginal due to tide, but it's the first real sign of life.
Now, here's your main standout. Friday the 21st is the day. Clear skies, a light offshore wind from the NW, and a 6ft S swell with a very long 16-second period. The energy is strong (1683) and it's clean. This is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell will wrap in beautifully. It's overhead, so it’s for experienced surfers, and you can expect some company. This is the session to plan for.
The weekend fades out. Saturday the 22nd is marginal with a smaller 3ft S swell and a moderate cross-offshore breeze. Sunday is down to tiny 2ft waves. The energy drops off a cliff.
The next week starts slow again, but look at Monday the 24th afternoon and Tuesday the 25th. Offshore winds from the NW return, with clean conditions. Swell is 4 to 4ft from the S, but the period is massive—14 to 19 seconds. The energy is moderate to strong (531-921). It's not big, but those long-period S swells on a reef with offshore wind will produce some beautiful, long walls. A really promising run.
Things get a bit messy mid-week, but then another potential standout pops up around Friday the 28th of August. A 8ft S swell with a 15-second period, a light cross-offshore breeze, and very strong energy (2662). The morning is rated excellent for experienced surfers. At 8ft, it's getting into expert-only territory, but the conditions are clean.
The weekend of the 29th and 30th sees the swell ease but with glassy conditions and offshore light airs on Saturday afternoon. A good call for a smaller board.
So, bottom line: the first few days are a bust. Your best bets are Friday the 21st for the bigger, cleaner groundswell, and the window around Monday the 24th into Tuesday the 25th for the smaller, super clean, long-period lines. Score it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Tue night, moderate winds from the SW by Wed afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 8 | S 8 | S 16 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 13 | SSW 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2616 | 1636 | 1436 | 1291 | 3126 | 8216 | 5929 | 4523 | 4151 | 2431 | 513 | 316 | 1456 | 1258 | 599 | 285 | 202 | 114 | 72 | 44 | 31 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 9:21PM1.76m | 9:46AM1.75m | 10:10PM1.71m | 10:33AM1.72m | 10:59PM1.67m | 11:22AM1.67m | 11:48PM1.62m | 12:14PM1.62m | 00:35AM1.57m | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:22AM1.51m | 1:56PM1.54m | 2:10AM1.45m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:09PM0.20m | 3:39AM0.22m | 4:01PM0.28m | 4:27AM0.30m | 4:51PM0.34m | 5:15AM0.36m | 5:41PM0.40m | 6:03AM0.41m | 6:30PM0.44m | 6:49AM0.45m | 7:20PM0.47m | 7:35AM0.46m | 8:10PM0.48m | ||||||||
6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
— | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SE 9 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | SE 9 | S 14 | S 13 | S 8 | S 8 | S 16 | S 16 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 6 |
296 | 112 | 71 | 269 | 229 | 84 | 18 | 481 | 3944 | 1710 | 513 | 316 | 1456 | 1258 | 599 | 285 | 202 | 114 | 72 | 31 | 31 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | E 10 | — | E 10 | — | ESE 15 | SE 14 | — | ESE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | S 12 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 |
376 | 200 | — | 45 | — | 23 | 48 | — | 258 | 201 | 95 | 187 | 102 | 84 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 44 | 42 | 44 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | — | S 18 | S 17 | ESE 10 | — | SE 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | NE 4 | — | S 16 | S 9 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 101 | — | 25 | 206 | 125 | — | 9 | 19 | 18 | 1 | — | 5 | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 14 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 3 | W 3 | N 2 |
2616 | 1636 | 1436 | 1291 | 3126 | 8216 | 5929 | 4523 | 4151 | 2431 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 261 | 93 | 78 | 93 | 288 | 169 | 93 | 84 | 75 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 33 | 47 | 12 | 3 |
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.











