
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 4 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period, S swell with 325 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 4 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 11s 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 Friday (Sep 04) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 1.1m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s talk this out in feet and Fahrenheit.
The run starts on Thursday, September 3rd, and that’s the one to circle. We’ve got a 5ft south swell with a 13-second interval – proper groundswell, with good energy (613). The wind is a light northerly, so it’s blowing cross-offshore and the waves will be clean. Water temp is 55°, about two degrees colder than it should be for this time of year, so it’s a bit fresh. That Thursday afternoon at *Rolling Stones* is the standout of the whole 16 days.
Friday the 4th, the swell drops to 3ft, and the wind goes northwest at 12 mph, blowing offshore. It’s surfable but nothing special, and by the afternoon the wind picks up to 15 mph and it gets messy. The whole weekend stays small – under 3ft – with mostly cross-off winds, but the period is short (8-10 seconds) and the energy is weak. Not worth getting wet for.
Monday the 7th through Wednesday the 9th is almost dead. Swell under 2ft, winds onshore or just mixed up. There’s a brief moment Tuesday afternoon with a 4ft SSW swell going glassy, but with only a 7-second period and energy at 156, it’s not going to do much. You might get a dribbler.
Thursday the 10th offers a 2ft south swell with a 14-second period and energy of 175. That long period means the sets will be straight and maybe walled up. It’s borderline. Friday the 11th has a similar small swell but with a crazy 21-second period – energy jumps to 390 and 494. That sounds great until you see the wind is 18 mph and gusty. It'll be blown and choppy. Experts only.
Now the bad news. Sunday the 13th, we get a 13ft to 15ft SSW swell with the wind howling at 28 mph cross-onshore. The energy is off the charts (5119). Monday the 14th is flat-out dangerous: 21ft swell with a 16-second period, energy over 31,000. The file says it’s too big for the break. That’s insane. Tuesday still has 10ft swell but the wind is cross-shore and messy. This whole stretch is for kamikazes.
Finally, Wednesday the 16th sees it drop to a clean 5ft SSE swell with a light northeast breeze. Energy is a solid 614. That’s a proper, manageable day with clean conditions. That’s your second-best option. Thursday morning the 17th is glassy but tiny – 2ft. Then Friday the 18th wraps it up with a 2ft south swell, 14-second period, and a light north-northwest offshore wind. Energy is 365, so it’s clean but very small.
So to put it straight: the absolute best day is Thursday, September 3rd – 5ft, clean, south swell at Rolling Stones. That’s the one you want. The Wednesday, September 16th is also good, with 5ft and clean winds, but it’s further out. The rest of the time you’re either scratching for knee-high dribble or running from a monster. The week of the 7th-12th is almost empty, and the weekend of the 13th-14th is for experts only.
Don’t sleep on that first Thursday.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
613 | 325 | 144 | 71 | 29 | 96 | 83 | 143 | 102 | 102 | 149 | 46 | 32 | 30 | 38 | 156 | 202 | 124 | 150 | 113 | |
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 | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | off |
High Tide | 10:30PM1.68m | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:20PM0.25m | 4:42AM0.24m | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | 7:26AM0.19m | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | |||||||
— | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 17 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 17 | SSW 10 | NE 7 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 7 | S 7 | S 8 |
613 | 325 | 144 | 71 | 29 | 96 | 83 | 143 | 102 | 41 | 149 | 34 | 59 | 30 | 38 | 156 | 35 | 124 | 150 | 113 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | NNE 4 | NNE 5 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | SSW 18 | E 10 | S 16 | SSW 10 | NE 5 | NE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | SSW 10 | NE 9 | NE 4 |
4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 102 | 2 | 46 | 32 | 7 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 20 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 4 | S 20 | S 17 | S 16 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 18 | NE 4 | — | E 9 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 10 | E 9 | NE 7 | E 15 | ENE 8 |
— | 1 | 8 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 26 | 1 | — | 2 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 4 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 4 | SW 4 | NW 3 | ENE 2 | WNW 2 | NW 3 | — | NNE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | W 3 | — | S 7 | — | — | NW 3 |
— | 5 | 5 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 34 | — | — | 1 | — | 202 | — | — | 1 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 8 | 0 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 88 | 7 | 0 | 82 | 75 | 4 | 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.










