
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 15s period, S swell with 10,469 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 5.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 15s |
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’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a real gem on Wednesday the 29th. Rolling Stones is firing with a solid 6ft SE swell, a super long 13-second period pushing that energy in, and the wind is glassy out of the NNW at just 3 mph. The water is about average for this time of year, nothing wild. The combined energy is pumping at 1043 (moderate wave energy), and the break is a reef setup that loves a south swell. This is clean, powerful, and well-shaped – a true standout for the advanced crew. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.
Wednesday afternoon, the wind shifts to a cross-off NE breeze at 9 mph, and the swell holds at 6ft, but the period drops a touch to 12 seconds. Still good, but not as glassy. The energy drops to 958. It’s a solid session, but that morning window is the real deal.
Thursday the 30th keeps the run going. Morning sees a 5ft ESE swell with a 12-second period, offshore NNW wind at 9 mph, and clean conditions. Energy is 692. The afternoon drops to 4ft, still offshore from the NW, and a bit more relaxed. Both sessions are good, but the morning is cleaner.
Friday the 31st starts to fade. Swell drops to 3ft, period still 11 seconds, but the wind is cross-off from the WNW at 12 mph. The energy is down to 228, and the surf is poor. That’s the end of the first good run.
Then we hit a massive gap. From Saturday the 1st of August through to Sunday the 9th, it’s mostly poor or marginal. Saturday the 1st brings a big, messy 8ft SSW swell with a short 7-second period and strong cross-on wind – that’s a choppy, lumpy mess. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd are even bigger and uglier, with 12ft to 10ft swells and onshore winds over 18 mph. The combined energy on Sunday morning hits 2809 (strong wave energy), but with cross-on winds that strong, you’re just looking at a washing machine. This is more kite-surfing territory than paddle surfing.
Things start to look a little better on Monday the 3rd afternoon, with a glassy 5ft SSE swell – but it’s only a brief window. Then Tuesday the 4th returns to big, ugly onshore junk at 12ft to 15ft.
The next real standout is Thursday the 6th of August. Morning brings a 12ft SSE swell with a very long 15-second period, and cross-shore wind from the WSW at 9 mph. The energy is huge at 5441 (very strong wave energy). It’s a bit cross-shore, so there’s slight chop, but the power and period are incredible. This is an expert-only day – that swell is well over 8ft, and the long period means it’ll be racing and heavy at this reef. It’s a promising one, but with the wind not fully offshore, it’s a little less certain than that Wednesday glass-off.
Friday the 7th brings a nice drop to 6ft SSE swell with a 12-second period and cross-off wind from the north at 6 mph. Energy is 1130. Clean and manageable. Saturday the 8th is smaller at 4ft, still clean with cross-off breezes.
After that, from Sunday the 9th onward, the swell fades fast. By Tuesday the 11th, we’re down to 2ft with a short 9-second period and energy under 100 (weak wave energy). The wind is clean but the swell is just too small to bother with. The last few days of the forecast are flat and poor.
In short: Wednesday the 29th morning is the absolute standout – glassy, 6ft, long-period groundswell, perfect conditions. Thursday the 30th morning is also very good. The massive gap from the 1st to the 8th is mostly blown out or too big. Thursday the 6th is the expert’s gamble with huge, long-period swell. After the 9th, it’s a quiet spell.
Stay stoked, and don’t sleep on that Wednesday glass-off.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Fri night, min 7°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1326 | 1003 | 933 | 802 | 509 | 379 | 256 | 190 | 154 | 103 | 581 | 2282 | 3721 | 2804 | 1926 | 1045 | 685 | 443 | 577 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:09AM1.43m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 11:08PM0.46m | 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 | |||||||
— | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 |
Feels °C | 7 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | SE 15 | E 16 | E 16 | E 15 | S 11 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | S 18 |
1326 | 1003 | 933 | 802 | 509 | 379 | 256 | 190 | 154 | 103 | 119 | 149 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1045 | 685 | 443 | 157 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SE 16 | ESE 11 | E 17 | E 10 | ENE 16 | S 19 | E 14 | E 13 | S 20 | E 13 |
36 | 34 | 20 | 162 | 183 | 109 | 36 | 34 | 12 | 61 | 39 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 32 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 18 | — | NE 12 | S 16 | SSW 14 | SE 15 | SSW 12 | E 17 | ENE 17 | ENE 16 | — | — | S 19 | S 23 | E 13 | ENE 13 |
— | 6 | 5 | 106 | — | 6 | 21 | 38 | 37 | 27 | 6 | 29 | 25 | — | — | 7 | 10 | 3 | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 4 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 11 | — | NW 3 | W 2 | S 8 |
— | — | — | 9 | 3 | 9 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 27 | 581 | 2282 | 3721 | 2804 | 1926 | — | 2 | 1 | 577 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 33 | 47 | 7 | 93 | 162 | 93 | 93 | 82 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










