Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 17s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,606 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3AM. 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, let’s get into it. This is a tricky one, so I’ll lay it out straight.
We’re looking at a 16-day window for Rolling Stones, a solid advanced reef break, and the first part of the run is a write-off. The first six records, from Monday the 17th of August right through to Thursday afternoon the 20th, are all crossed out. Strong cross-onshore winds, lumpy, messy conditions – it’s a total no-go. The combined wave energy is massive (2033 to 5896), but it’s all blown to bits. Forget paddle surfing; with that much wind and swell, it’s a kite surfer’s playground.
The water temp is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick suit.
Now, the first real glimmer of hope comes on Friday the 21st of August. The morning session shows a clean 6 ft south swell with a very long 16-second period, and the wind is a light cross-off. That’s a proper groundswell with heaps of energy (1766). The afternoon glassed right off, with 5 ft and a 15-second period. This is the standout window. The wave direction is south, which is the optimum for this break, and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers and glassy. For a reef break like this, that long period will draw some beautiful lines, but it’s strictly for the advanced crew. The combined energy (1206 in the arvo) is still strong. It’s the best on offer, hands down.
Saturday the 22nd drops off quick. Morning is clean but only 3 ft, and the energy is down to 307. By afternoon, it’s puny. Sunday the 23rd is tiny, and the whole run from Saturday the 22nd through to Thursday the 27th is mostly marginal or poor. There’s a spike in swell on Monday the 24th (4 ft, 17-second period) but it’s still marginal, and the energy is moderate.
The next promising window is Friday the 28th of August. The morning shows a clean 6 ft south swell with a 15-second period, and light cross-off winds. The combined energy is back up to 1680, and it’s described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s another solid, clean groundswell. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, so the morning is the pick.
We get another chance on Sunday the 30th of August. The morning is clean with a 6 ft south swell, 11-second period, and light cross-off winds. The energy is moderate (736) but the conditions are very good. It’s not as powerful as the 21st or 28th, but a clean, fun day.
Finally, Tuesday the 1st of September morning offers a clean 6 ft swell from the SSW with an 8-second period. The energy is moderate (464), and conditions are good. Short period, so it’s more of a local wind swell, but still surfable.
Verdict: The absolute best windows are the morning of Friday the 21st of August and the morning of Friday the 28th of August. That’s where the quality, size, period, and clean conditions all line up for the advanced crowd. The rest of the run is a lot of waiting and small, marginal days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SSW on Tue night, light winds from the SW by Thu morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 8 | S 8 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1689 | 1507 | 858 | 3168 | 8514 | 5831 | 3643 | 2785 | 1890 | 647 | 354 | 1456 | 1089 | 392 | 280 | 205 | 146 | 73 | 42 | 40 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:21PM1.76m | 9:46AM1.75m | 10:10PM1.71m | 10:33AM1.72m | 10:59PM1.67m | 11:22AM1.67m | 11:48PM1.62m | 12:14PM1.62m | 00:35AM1.57m | 1:06PM1.58m | 1:22AM1.51m | 1:56PM1.54m | 2:10AM1.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:09PM0.20m | 3:39AM0.22m | 4:01PM0.28m | 4:27AM0.30m | 4:51PM0.34m | 5:15AM0.36m | 5:41PM0.40m | 6:03AM0.41m | 6:30PM0.44m | 6:49AM0.45m | 7:20PM0.47m | 7:35AM0.46m | 8:10PM0.48m | |||||||
— | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | |
mm | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Feels °C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | E 9 | SE 9 | SE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 13 | SE 9 | S 14 | SE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SE 12 |
144 | 60 | 390 | 338 | 84 | 18 | 475 | 2785 | 205 | 513 | 354 | 1456 | 1089 | 392 | 280 | 205 | 146 | 73 | 31 | 40 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | — | ESE 15 | SE 14 | S 15 | SE 9 | ESE 13 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | S 9 |
200 | 106 | 45 | — | 23 | 47 | 1331 | 393 | 18 | 95 | 69 | 134 | 117 | 45 | 23 | 13 | 34 | 33 | 42 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 14 | — | — | S 13 | S 17 | ESE 11 | — | S 16 | E 14 | ESE 14 | SE 8 | NE 4 | S 17 | S 15 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | 209 | 209 | 176 | — | 119 | 4 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 17 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | S 9 | SSW 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | — | S 13 | S 8 | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 |
1689 | 1507 | 858 | 3168 | 8514 | 5831 | 3643 | — | 1890 | 647 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 41 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 158 | 78 | 113 | 312 | 169 | 93 | 84 | 41 | 55 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 33 | 33 | 7 |
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.











