Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 27 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 18s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, S swell with 2,654 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 14s. 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 2.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Mon 24th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up at Rolling Stones.
First thing’s first – the water’s sitting at about 53°F, which is nearly 4°F cooler than average for this time of year. You’re gonna want that thick wetsuit if you’re paddling out here over the next couple weeks.
The start is slow. Monday the 24th of August brings a small SSW swell around 5ft, but the period’s short – only 8 seconds. Light cross-off breeze keeps it clean, but wave energy is weak (346). Surfable, but nothing special. By the afternoon it gets a bit bumpy.
Tuesday the 25th is better. Swell drops to 4ft but the period jumps to 12 seconds – that means proper lines. The morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, but the real treat is Tuesday afternoon: glassy conditions, with 4ft of S swell. That’s the kind of buttery surface you live for.
Wednesday the 26th is small but clean, with a very long 18-second period swell in the morning. At about 3ft it’s tiny, but the long period will draw long, peeling waves at this reef.
Now pay attention: Thursday morning, August 27th. That’s the one. A solid 6ft S swell with that same long 18-second period, light cross-off winds, and the energy is cranking at 1982 – that’s serious power. Clean, heavy, and only for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets bumpy with cross-shore winds, so get out early.
Friday the 28th holds good energy with 5ft of S swell, 13-second period, and offshore N winds all day. The morning session is the pick – clean and fast.
Then we hit a lull from Saturday the 29th through early next week. Swell drops to around 3–3ft. Winds stay okay, but energy fades. Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are pretty ordinary – poor conditions, small waves, not worth paddling out.
But hold onto your board – Tuesday morning, September 1st. A massive 12ft S swell rolls in with a 15-second period, light cross-off winds, and an energy reading of 5663 – that’s a beast of a groundswell. This is the absolute standout of the whole 16 days. It’s breaking clean at this reef, but it’s strictly for experts. Afternoon gets a little messy with cross conditions, but that morning is world-class.
Wednesday the 2nd stays big at 8ft, but gets gusty with a fresh cross-off breeze. Still surfable for pros, but not as clean. Thursday the 3rd is a washout with rain and strong wind.
Friday the 4th sees a 8ft S swell, moderate energy, but cross-shore winds make it lumpy. Not the best.
The following weekend (the 5th and 6th) fades to small, ordinary surf. But look to Monday morning, September 7th – we get a nice pulse of 6ft S swell with clean offshore NNW winds, and that afternoon goes glassy again. Solid session to wrap things up.
So the two standouts for me: Thursday morning, August 27th – 6ft, 18 seconds, clean and powerful. And the big one: Tuesday morning, September 1st – 12ft S groundswell, very long period, offshore breeze, and clean reef. That’s the one to circle on the calendar, but only if you know what you’re doing.
Rolling Stones is a fairly consistent reef for advanced surfers, and it sometimes gets crowded, so be ready for company. When the swell’s coming from the S – and it is here – the break lines up perfect.
Stay stoked,
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 15 | S 18 | S 16 | S 17 | S 18 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
306 | 610 | 851 | 439 | 353 | 218 | 390 | 513 | 459 | 1970 | 2594 | 1640 | 901 | 640 | 356 | 271 | 248 | 191 | 138 | 98 | 82 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off |
High Tide | 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 | 6:58AM1.52m | 7:20PM1.62m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:02PM0.25m | 1:35AM0.24m | ||||||||
6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | |
— | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 18 | S 16 | S 17 | S 18 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 7 |
306 | 610 | 851 | 439 | 353 | 143 | 390 | 513 | 459 | 1970 | 2594 | 1640 | 901 | 640 | 356 | 271 | 248 | 191 | 138 | 98 | 82 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | SSW 7 | SE 13 | SE 13 | S 18 | S 15 | SSW 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 12 | SE 15 | ESE 14 | NE 5 | NE 7 | NE 8 | SSW 5 | NE 6 | SSE 10 |
34 | 69 | 28 | 27 | 97 | 218 | 102 | 26 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 11 | 6 | 20 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | ESE 13 | NE 11 | NE 5 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SE 13 | E 10 | E 10 | — | — | E 16 | SE 15 | NE 10 | — | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 6 | S 13 | ENE 6 |
6 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 9 | 4 | — | 17 | 25 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNE 4 | WNW 3 | — | — | — | — | NW 2 | — | — | NNE 4 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | — | SW 5 | — | — | — |
— | — | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 8 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 84 | — | 17 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 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.











