Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
11.8°C
1.9° 

Rolling Stones surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Rolling Stones surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 17s period, S swell with 1,903 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 8s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. 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 1.8m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 24th Aug)3.5ft (1.1m) 8s
Best Surf 3PM (Mon 24th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 14s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 27th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.

We’re looking at a classic reef slab that’s all about the right swell direction. The water is sitting at 53°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t kid yourself – you’ll want a hood and maybe some gloves, especially early.

The first day of the run, Sunday the 23rd, is a write-off. There’s a little 2ft swell from the south, but a stiff 25 km/h northwesterly offshore is making it messy and weak. The combined energy is only 148 – really anemic stuff. You’d be wasting your time. Skip it.

It’s not until Monday the 24th that things start to wake up. The morning session shows 5ft of SSW swell with a 9-second period, but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the WNW at just 5 km/h. That’s clean. The energy ramps up to 315 (moderate). By Monday afternoon, the real quality shows up: 6ft of south swell with a 14-second period, pushing the combined energy to 1352 (strong). The wind is light and cross-offshore from the ENE. This is our first standout session – excellent conditions for experienced surfers.

Tuesday the 25th rolls in with another solid morning: 4ft of south swell at 12 seconds, clean with a light cross-offshore. The energy is 540. Then Tuesday afternoon turns glassy – zero wind, 4ft of south swell, 12-second period, and 456 energy. That’s pure, clean, line-up perfection. This is a serious contender for the best of the week.

Wednesday the 26th is still good, but smaller. Morning brings 3ft of south swell but with a very long 17-second period, energy at 500. Very clean offshore from the NW. That long period is golden for a reef, but the sets will be widely spaced. Afternoon gets a bit more questionable with some clouds and a cross-offshore breeze, but still rideable.

Thursday the 27th is all about the afternoon. Morning is marginal with 5ft and a 16-second period, but the afternoon brings a proper pulse: 5ft of south swell, 17-second period, and a massive 1538 energy. The wind is light offshore from the NNW. This is another highlight – clean, powerful, and for the advanced crew. Friday the 28th holds similar energy in the morning, with 5ft of south swell, 15-second period, and 1150 energy, under a moderate offshore breeze. Good, but not the peak.

Then the weather turns grim. From Saturday the 29th afternoon through to Monday the 31st, the wind picks up, the swell drops, and conditions get messy. There’s an 8ft pulse on Monday the 31st, but with a short 8-second period and a strong cross-shore wind, it’s a choppy, lumpy mess. Not worth it.

But hold on. Tuesday the 1st of September is a corker. The morning brings a solid 8ft of south swell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy hits 2665 – very strong. Wind is light offshore from the NNW. This is big, powerful, and clean. Only for experts. The afternoon drops to 7ft, still with a 12-second period and 1364 energy, under light cross-offshore winds. Another top-tier session.

After that, the swell fades. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd are small and weak, or have poor wind. Friday the 4th offers a small clean window with 2-3ft of south swell and 13-14 second periods, but the energy is only around 375. Fun, but not a standout.

Then we get a massive spike on Sunday the 6th of September. A huge 18ft SSW swell with a 13-second period and an insane 11206 energy hits. The wind is gentle offshore from the NNW. This is a massive groundswell, but it’s predicted to be too big for this break. Unless you’re a tow-in charger or a masochist, stay away. Monday the 7th is still huge at 13ft, with 4670 energy, under a cross-offshore breeze. That’s still expert-only territory.

So, the true standouts in this 16-day window? Monday afternoon the 24th, Tuesday afternoon the 25th, Thursday afternoon the 27th, and Tuesday the 1st of September. Of those, Tuesday the 1st of September morning is the absolute best – big, clean, powerful, and glassy. But it’s for experts only. For the rest of us, Tuesday afternoon the 25th is the sweet spot.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
2
4
3
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
4
4
3
3
2
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.7
S
10
0.4
SE
13
0.4
SE
13
1.4
SSW
9
1.8
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.9
SSW
11
0.8
S
17
1
S
16
0.8
S
14
1.4
S
16
1.6
S
17
1.8
S
17
1.6
S
15
1.4
S
14
1.1
S
13
0.9
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.7
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
104
50
43
275
1317
1138
513
339
194
381
501
239
1052
1526
1772
1119
714
383
225
160
110
Wind (km/h)
25
NW
30
NW
15
WNW
10
WNW
15
ENE
10
NW
10
WNW
0
NNE
15
NW
5
NW
15
NE
15
NW
15
WNW
10
NNW
15
N
20
N
25
N
15
N
15
NW
35
WNW
30
NW
Wind State
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:56PM1.54m
2:10AM1.45m
2:43PM1.52m
2:58AM1.40m
3:28PM1.49m
3:46AM1.38m
4:13PM1.49m
4:33AM1.38m
4:59PM1.50m
5:22AM1.41m
5:47PM1.53m
6:11AM1.46m
6:33PM1.57m
Low Tide
8:10PM0.48m
8:23AM0.46m
8:57PM0.47m
9:11AM0.44m
9:43PM0.43m
10:00AM0.41m
10:29PM0.39m
10:48AM0.36m
11:15PM0.34m
11:32AM0.32m
00:03AM0.30m
12:17PM0.28m
00:49AM0.26m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:45
6:43
6:41
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:39
5:40
5:42
5:43
 mm
Temp °C
15
16
12
13
14
12
16
17
13
17
16
15
19
20
14
16
16
15
17
14
12
Feels °C
9
10
7
11
10
9
14
15
10
15
12
12
17
18
11
12
11
12
14
8
6
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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