Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 16 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.5°C
1.3° 

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 16 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, SSW swell with 5,943 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s 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 (Sep 16) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 4.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 7s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Wed 16th Sep)1.5ft (0.5m) 12s
Best Surf 9AM (Mon 21st Sep)15ft (4.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 9AM (Mon 21st Sep)15ft (4.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Morning crew, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for the next couple of weeks at Rolling Stones. This is a reef setup, and while there’s a bit of a slow start, we’ve got some serious potential lining up—especially if you can wait it out. The water’s sitting at 55°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t be fooled by the sun—suit up properly.

The opening days are pretty average. Wednesday morning starts with a clean 3ft of SSE swell, but it’s pretty weak energy-wise (166) and the wind is cross-off from the west, so it’s surfable but nothing to write home about. The afternoon goes a bit cross-shore and drops to 3ft. Thursday is similar, with a bit more SE in the swell and a light offshore from the NW—clean but small. Honestly, these first couple of days are for getting your fins wet, not for scoring.

Then things start waking up on Friday the 18th. The swell pulses to 3ft, period jumps to 12 seconds, and energy more than doubles to 327. That’s a real groundswell building, and with light offshore NE winds in the morning, it’s looking clean and lined up. Saturday the 19th is where I’d pump the brakes if you’re a beginner though—the swell jumps to 6ft but the period drops to 7 seconds and it’s a messy cross-shore with 25 km/h winds. That’s junky and raw, not the good kind of raw. The afternoon gets worse, with a long-period S swell arriving but messy wind. Not your day.

Sunday the 20th is a write-off. The morning is lumpy and cross-shore, and the afternoon brings 10ft of SSW swell with fresh cross-onshore winds. That’s not surf—that’s a washing machine. Energy is at 1396, so there’s plenty of power, but it’s all over the place. If you’re a strong swimmer and know the reef, maybe, but honestly, I’d rather wait.

Then—hang on to your board—Monday the 21st is the standout. This is the big one. We’re looking at 15ft of SSW swell, period 12 seconds, and the energy is off the charts at 9252. That’s a serious, serious groundswell. And the wind? Glassy. Completely calm, which on a reef like this is as good as it gets. This is an expert-only day. The wave will be heavy, hollow, and moving fast. If you’re not confident in overhead-to-double-overhead reef surf, give it a wide berth. But for the chargers in the lineup, this is the day of the window.

The rest of that week settles down a lot. Tuesday the 22nd has a clean 4ft with cross-off winds, good but nothing crazy. Wednesday the 23rd gets a bit cross and bumpy with a short-period 5ft, so not great. Thursday the 24th is similar—marginal, with a shorter period and onshore tendencies. It’s not bad, but it’s not good either. You’re chasing it.

Friday the 25th is actually a nice little rebound. Morning glass, 3ft but with a long 16-second period and energy at 709—clean, lined up, and much more manageable. Saturday the 26th is similar, with 5ft and glassy conditions in the morning. That’s a fun, clean day for a step-down board and maybe some longboard if it’s got a bit of push. The afternoon gets a little cross-shore, but the morning is a gem.

Sunday the 27th keeps it clean with cross-off winds and 4ft, and Monday the 28th has a glassy 2ft with a 17-second period—tiny but super clean, and that long period means it’ll have real shape. That’s a good day for a fish or a longboard, not for a shortboard shred.

The last couple of days—September 29th and 30th—are pretty poor. The 29th is small, onshore, and weak (energy down at 124). The 30th has a bit more size (4ft) and a bit more energy (455), with clean conditions and a decent period. That Wednesday morning looks like a sleeper, actually. Clear, light offshore, and a nice S swell. It’s not the big Monday, but it’s clean and fun.

So, to sum up: the real standout is Monday the 21st—don’t miss that if you’re an expert. Friday the 25th through the 27th has some clean, manageable surf too, especially the glassy mornings. The rest is mostly average or junky. If you’re new to the sport, stay out of the water on the 19th–21st. But if you know what you’re doing, there’s some serious gold in here.

Keep an eye on the long-range energy—it’s got a lot of punch when it wants to.

Stay salty,

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat night, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Sun morning, calm by Mon morning).

Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
Monday
21
Tuesday
22
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
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
7
2
3
2
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSE
9
0.8
SSE
9
0.9
SE
12
0.8
SE
10
0.8
SE
9
0.7
SE
11
1
SE
12
0.9
SE
12
0.8
SE
12
1.9
SSW
7
1.5
S
7
0.8
SSW
14
1.1
SW
12
3
SSW
9
3.5
S
11
4.5
SSW
12
3
S
12
1.9
S
10
1.3
S
9
1
S
8
1.9
SSW
7
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
124
99
224
138
122
110
281
224
197
311
212
269
324
1337
2574
5943
2510
753
295
138
332
Wind (km/h)
5
W
15
E
15
WNW
15
NW
15
NNW
10
NNE
15
NE
5
WNW
10
W
30
SW
10
S
25
WNW
30
WSW
35
SW
25
SW
5
NNW
15
ENE
5
NW
10
NNE
10
NW
30
SW
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
High Tide
9:14AM1.76m
9:39PM1.68m
9:58AM1.72m
10:25PM1.64m
10:45AM1.66m
11:11PM1.59m
11:34AM1.60m
11:55PM1.52m
12:25PM1.54m
00:41AM1.44m
1:14PM1.49m
1:29AM1.38m
2:00PM1.46m
2:18AM1.35m
Low Tide
3:31PM0.34m
3:51AM0.39m
4:19PM0.39m
4:38AM0.42m
5:05PM0.42m
5:24AM0.45m
5:53PM0.44m
6:09AM0.46m
6:41PM0.45m
6:53AM0.45m
7:29PM0.44m
7:39AM0.44m
8:15PM0.41m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:07
6:05
6:03
6:01
6:00
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:02
6:04
 mm
1
2
1
1
1
Temp °C
15
16
12
17
17
14
14
13
12
13
14
15
14
10
8
13
15
11
19
22
13
Feels °C
13
13
10
13
13
11
12
12
11
9
11
10
7
2
3
10
11
8
17
19
10
  • 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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