
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 29 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 14s period, S swell with 10,790 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period with ESE 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. 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 5.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Wed 29th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Tue 4th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, fellow surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’re looking at a window that starts off slow, then builds to a big, powerful punch starting next week. The first few days are about small, clean waves giving way to a massive groundswell that’ll be for the experienced crew only. Things get interesting again towards the end with another shot of quality.
Right off the bat, the first surf worth paddling out for is on Wednesday, July 29th. First light at Rolling Stones is looking choice. We’ve got a solid 6 ft swell rolling in from the SSE, with a 13-second period that’s got some real push to it. The combined energy is pumping hard at 1134 – that’s moderate wave energy but feels powerful. And the wind? Glassy. Dead calm. A bit offshore from the NNW. This is going to be clean as a whistle. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year at 55°, about 3 degrees off the average, so you’ll feel that nip. Who’s it for? The size is up there, nudging 6 ft, so beginners might find it a handful. This is for the intermediate and up crew. Don’t forget, long period swell (13 seconds) means better shaped waves but longer lulls between sets, so take your time paddling out. Also, keep an eye out – crowds can show up here sometimes.
Wednesday afternoon takes a step down; the wind shifts and it gets a bit cross-off, making it more marginal. Not the call.
Thursday, July 30th, is a solid second option. Morning winds are offshore from the north with a clean 5 ft swell from the ESE. The energy is still decent at 701. It’s smaller than Wednesday, so a bit more manageable. The wave quality will be very good again.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday, August 4th, could be a proper standout for the experts. We’re looking at a massive 18 ft swell from the south with a 14-second period arriving first thing. The combined energy is a beast – 10790 – that’s very strong. However, the wind is light and cross-shore, so it won’t be completely clean, but the power is undeniable. This is easily for advanced surfers only; anything over 8 ft is expert territory. This setup looks intense, and for beach-and-reef setups, a swell this big with that much energy and a cross-shore wind might actually be more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers, as the waves could be closing out hard.
The bigger story is the massive surf on Tuesday, August 5th, which is followed by poor conditions and strong cross-onshore winds for a few days. A real lull hits from around August 8th until August 13th, where there’s nothing worthwhile.
After the lull, we get our second wind. Thursday, August 7th, morning shows some potential with a 7 ft SSE swell and a deep 13-second period. But the wind is cross-shore, so it’s a bit bumpy.
The actual return to quality is on Thursday, August 13th. The swell is a modest 8 ft from the SSE, but the wind is light offshore from the NNE. The energy is solid at 1517. This one is clean and powerful, and the 11-second period gives it good shape. The same goes for the afternoon session – 8 ft from the SSE with a 13-second period. Both of these are rated as excellent for experienced surfers. This is the best call for the later part of the outlook.
So, to sum it up: Wednesday morning, July 29th, is your best early window for clean, powerful waves. Then, get ready for the giant pulse on Monday, August 4th, but that’s only for the brave. After a dry spell, Thursday, August 7th, offers another solid, clean option for the experienced surfer.
Stay safe and keep your eyes on the horizon.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Wed morning). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the WNW by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 9 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1094 | 933 | 722 | 518 | 379 | 256 | 190 | 154 | 103 | 527 | 1294 | 2736 | 3267 | 2001 | 1005 | 670 | 1039 | 7243 | 10790 | 9888 | 10327 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:37PM1.55m | 5:56AM1.42m | 6:22PM1.55m | 6:43AM1.44m | 7:06PM1.57m | 7:30AM1.47m | 7:50PM1.58m | 8:14AM1.51m | 8:34PM1.61m | 8:57AM1.55m | 9:19PM1.63m | 9:39AM1.59m | 10:04PM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:24AM0.41m | 11:53PM0.41m | 12:05PM0.37m | 00:38AM0.36m | 12:47PM0.33m | 1:23AM0.32m | 1:30PM0.31m | 2:07AM0.29m | 2:15PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.27m | 3:02PM0.29m | 3:34AM0.27m | 3:49PM0.29m | ||||||||
7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 9 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | SE 16 | E 16 | E 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 20 | ENE 13 | — | — | S 14 |
1094 | 933 | 722 | 518 | 379 | 256 | 190 | 154 | 103 | 119 | 151 | 5 | 5 | 2001 | 1005 | 670 | 68 | 16 | — | — | 7240 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 15 | ESE 12 | E 17 | E 10 | ENE 16 | E 15 | E 14 | S 22 | E 13 | — | — | — | — |
34 | 20 | 162 | 183 | 109 | 36 | 45 | 12 | 58 | 45 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 3 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 18 | — | NE 12 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SE 15 | SSE 11 | NE 6 | ENE 17 | ENE 16 | — | SE 13 | S 19 | E 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 5 | 106 | — | 6 | 21 | 47 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 29 | 25 | — | 61 | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | N 4 | N 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 12 | — | — | — | S 9 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 |
— | — | 10 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 18 | 3 | 21 | 527 | 1294 | 2736 | 3267 | — | — | — | 1039 | 7243 | 10790 | 9888 | 10327 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 7 | 65 | 113 | 91 | 84 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 91 | 78 |
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.










