
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with 3,981 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 1ft (0.3m), 16s 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 Thursday (Sep 10) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.3m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 7s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 4s period and expected on Monday (Sep 14) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 1ft (0.3m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what Rolling Stones has got cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, Thursday and Friday are a write-off – tiny, weak swell with poor conditions. You're better off waxing your board or doing a lap of the headland. The real story starts to build from the weekend.
Saturday the 12th is a bit of a mess with onshore winds and a cross-chop, so I wouldn’t get too excited. The swell period is long though, around 16 seconds, so there’s some good energy in the water.
Sunday the 13th morning is where things get interesting. We’ve got a solid 8ft swell from the south, with a long 15-second period. The wind is a clean cross-off from the west, and the combined energy is pumping at (3081). This is proper groundswell, so it will hold its shape nicely on this reef. The sets will be a bit walled up with that period, but for an advanced crew, this is a standout. That’s a big call for the first week.
Monday the 14th morning cleans up nicely. The swell drops to a very manageable 6ft, still from the south, with a clean cross-off breeze from the north-northeast. The water temp is 55°, which is a full degree colder than average for this time of year, so a good 4/3 and booties are the go.
The second week has a couple of serious contenders. The 22nd and 23rd of September are showing some serious grunt. Tuesday the 22nd morning is glassy with 8ft of south-southwest swell. The period sits at 12 seconds, and the combined energy is (1672). It’s a big swell, so this is strictly for the experienced surfers. Tuesday afternoon sees it bump up to 10ft, still clean with offshore winds. That’s another high-energy day at (1626), but again, that’s a lot of water moving – expert territory only.
The 23rd of September Wednesday morning holds at 8ft, a bit more wind on it, but still plenty of push.
Honestly, the standout day in this whole run is the Sunday the 13th of September morning. Big south swell (8ft), long period (15 seconds), and clean cross-off wind. That’s as good as it gets on this reef if you’ve got the skills. The 22nd of September morning is a close second with glassy conditions and a very solid swell. Crowds? Rolling Stones can get busy, so expect some company on those peak days.
Outside of those, there are small windows of clean, smaller surf on the 15th, 18th and 21st of September for a mellow session. A lot of junk in between though.
Rusty, signing out.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SW 4 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
67 | 55 | 80 | 182 | 235 | 222 | 287 | 912 | 3523 | 2925 | 1597 | 1091 | 798 | 870 | 449 | 216 | 121 | 65 | 46 | 35 | 19 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 4:37PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.63m | 5:33PM1.75m | 6:03AM1.67m | 6:25PM1.75m | 6:56AM1.71m | 7:15PM1.74m | 7:45AM1.75m | 8:04PM1.73m | 8:30AM1.77m | 8:52PM1.71m | 9:14AM1.76m | 9:39PM1.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | 11:19AM0.11m | 11:53PM0.14m | 12:11PM0.13m | 00:45AM0.17m | 1:02PM0.18m | 1:33AM0.22m | 1:52PM0.24m | 2:19AM0.27m | 2:43PM0.29m | 3:05AM0.33m | 3:31PM0.34m | ||||||||
6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | |
mm | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 10 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 16 | S 6 | S 8 | S 7 | S 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 |
67 | 55 | 80 | 115 | 135 | 47 | 287 | 912 | 3523 | 2925 | 1597 | 1091 | 798 | 870 | 449 | 216 | 121 | 65 | 46 | 16 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | ENE 8 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | ENE 9 | S 6 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 8 | E 8 | ENE 12 | NE 12 | E 9 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 9 |
22 | 21 | 6 | 182 | 235 | 222 | 15 | 41 | 30 | 29 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 44 | 46 | 38 | 33 | 35 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | NE 7 | S 21 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ENE 13 | NE 12 | ENE 8 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | E 15 | — | E 13 | NNE 5 | E 8 | SE 11 | E 12 | E 12 | NE 5 |
6 | 8 | 36 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 33 | 25 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 4 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | — | SSE 7 | — | — | — | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 8 | NNE 4 | NW 3 | NE 2 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | WNW 4 | SW 4 |
3 | — | 70 | — | — | — | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 19 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 99 | 158 | 1 | 1 | 191 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 131 |
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.










