Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 20s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 19 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 20s period, S swell with 8,364 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period with SE 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 (Jul 12) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m 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 3.0m 20s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 20s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 20s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into this one and see what's cooking at Rolling Stones.
The early part of the week is a total washout. From now through Thursday, July 16th, it's flat and funky. You're looking at ankle to thigh-high junk (0.4 to 0.9 feet) with next to no push (62 to 221 energy). Honestly, save your wax. There's a solid four-day gap where you won't find a single ride worth paddling for.
The story flips on Friday the 17th. Morning size jumps to a clean 5 feet from the southeast with a 15-second period. Then the afternoon goes glassy – absolutely zero wind. That's the magic ingredient. That clean 6-foot southeast groundswell (1373 energy) is prime. For experienced surfers, this is the first real standout of the week.
Saturday the 18th is a dud. Moderate cross-shore and onshore winds murder any chance at quality.
Okay, brace yourselves. Sunday the 19th is the bomb. We've got 10-foot south swell rolling in with a massive 20-second period. That's massive energy (8003) and the wind is light offshore from the NNW all day. That's a hall-of-fame setup for this reef, but it's strictly for experts at that size. Beginners, you're watching from the beach.
The following week has size but the conditions are fussy. Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st bring 5 to 6 feet of south swell, but cross and onshore winds mess up the surface. The power is there (1300 to 2000 energy), but the quality isn't.
Then the week finishes wild. Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd bring a massive east swell, peaking at 16 feet with a short 10-11 second period. That's 6235 energy. It's raw, choppy power. That setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. A total beast.
The last few days, from Friday the 24th to Monday the 27th, the east swell drops. Friday still has 12 feet but with clean, light offshore winds – another expert session. By the 25th and 26th, you're down to 7 feet and 4 feet with clean winds, making for a much more user-friendly ending.
Water temp is about 56°F, which is a bit cooler than normal, so that thick wetsuit is non-negotiable.
To boil it down: Friday the 17th afternoon is the sneaky-good session with glassy 6-foot waves. But the undisputed best of the whole run is Sunday the 19th – 10-foot groundswell, 20-second period, and offshore wind. That's the date.
Rusty, out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 15 | S 13 | S 12 | SE 9 | S 10 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 18 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 22 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 343 | 222 | 216 | 135 | 122 | 166 | 73 | 45 | 20 | 48 | 50 | 67 | 193 | 534 | 917 | 1187 | 1297 | 1474 | 992 | 706 | 5076 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | on | glassy |
High Tide | 3:16PM1.84m | 3:46AM1.75m | 4:14PM1.90m | 4:46AM1.78m | 5:14PM1.94m | 5:45AM1.79m | 6:14PM1.96m | 6:44AM1.79m | 7:11PM1.96m | 7:42AM1.78m | 8:06PM1.93m | 8:36AM1.77m | 8:58PM1.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:39PM0.25m | 10:00AM0.22m | 10:38PM0.19m | 11:01AM0.15m | 11:37PM0.13m | 11:59AM0.08m | 00:36AM0.09m | 12:53PM0.04m | 1:34AM0.06m | 1:47PM0.03m | 2:28AM0.06m | 2:42PM0.06m | |||||||||
 |  |  | | |  | | | | | | |  |  |  | | | |  | | | |
 | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — | — | 5:07 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 10 | S 13 | SE 8 | NE 4 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 18 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 14 | S 22 |
| kJ | 231 | 178 | 203 | 120 | 122 | 166 | 34 | 9 | 5 | 48 | 50 | 67 | 193 | 534 | 917 | 1187 | 1297 | 1474 | 992 | 706 | 5076 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | S 12 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | NE 5 | NE 5 | S 19 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 5 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 11 | S 11 | S 7 |
| kJ | 343 | 222 | 216 | 135 | 79 | 49 | 73 | 17 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 10 | 69 | 71 | 93 | 85 | 135 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | S 7 | E 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | E 15 | SSW 12 | ESE 8 | S 9 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | NE 10 | SW 9 | SSW 16 | SSE 5 | SSW 10 | SSW 14 | S 19 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 45 | 32 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 49 | 7 | 33 | 38 | 113 | 386 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NW 2 | NW 3 | — | WNW 2 | WNW 2 | SW 3 | S 5 | — | — | — | SW 3 | S 5 | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | 12 | 24 | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | — | — | — | 7 | 65 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 162 | 0 |
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.
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