Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,216 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 0.4m and 17s. 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 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Thu 20th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 18ft (5.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve got the outlook for Rolling Stones. Buckle up.
Alright, let’s be straight up. For the next several days, we are looking at a pretty grim run of conditions. The wind is just howling from the south, smashing into this break. We’ve got a solid 10ft to 15ft south swell pumping, and the energy is massive – we’re talking 2935 to 5955 (moderate to very strong wave energy), but it’s all blown out. The water is sitting at 54°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. For a reef break like this, it’s messy, lumpy, and cross-onshore. Not worth paddling out for anyone.
This ugly pattern holds until the 20th of August. Thursday the 20th finally shows a drop in the wind, but the swell drops too, to 6ft-7ft. The surf is still lumpy and marginal. Not your day.
Friday, 21st of August is where it finally comes together. This is the standout. The wind swings to a light NNW offshore at only 3 mph by morning. The swell settles to a clean 5ft from the south with a beautiful 12-second period. By the afternoon, it goes glassy – zero wind – with the swell picking up to 5ft and a very long 16-second period. This is proper groundswell energy (1396 – moderate wave energy). For a reef break like Rolling Stones, that’s money. Clean, lined up, and for experienced surfers, this is the best on offer in the whole outlook.
Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are small, with dropping swell (2ft to 3ft), but the wind is cross-off and clean. It’s surfable but tiny.
We then get a bit of a lull through the middle of the week, with small, clean but marginal conditions. Keep an eye on Tuesday, 25th of August. By the afternoon, we see a 5ft south-southwest swell with a 13-second period, and a gentle offshore wind from the northwest. The wave energy is moderate (811). It won’t be huge, but it’ll be clean and rideable.
Thursday, 27th of August afternoon is another real highlight. This one is for the advanced crew. A clean 7ft south swell, but with a 15-second period cranking through (1989 – moderate wave energy). The wind goes light offshore from the north at 9 mph. This is gonna be clean, powerful, and good. It’s over 5ft, so it’s solid, but at 7ft it’s still manageable for experienced surfers.
After that, it gets ugly again with a strong southwesterly gale on the 28th and 29th, blowing out a big 8ft to 7ft swell. Stay out of the water. The period looks good, but the wind is a nightmare.
Then, finally, on Sunday, 30th of August, we end the run on a glassy note. Morning sees a 6ft south swell, 11-second period, with glassy conditions and zero wind. The wave energy is moderate (754). It’s clean, it’s there, but the crowds at Rolling Stones can be a problem – be prepared for company.
So, to sum it up: the first week is a write-off. The standout is unquestionably the 21st of August (Friday) for the glassy, long-period groundswell, and then the 27th of August (Thursday) for a more powerful, clean session. Don’t bother before that.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the SW on Tue night, moderate winds from the SW by Wed night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the NW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 8 | S 12 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | WSW 5 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2457 | 1601 | 1399 | 1261 | 3345 | 8216 | 5680 | 4369 | 3944 | 1585 | 941 | 316 | 544 | 1317 | 768 | 300 | 220 | 116 | 73 | 48 | 29 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
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 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 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 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 12 |
Feels °C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | SE 10 | SE 11 | ESE 15 | ESE 13 | S 15 | S 14 | SE 8 | S 13 | S 8 | S 12 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
128 | 112 | 71 | 268 | 263 | 23 | 18 | 1180 | 3944 | 229 | 941 | 316 | 544 | 1317 | 768 | 300 | 220 | 116 | 73 | 48 | 17 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | E 10 | — | E 10 | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 11 | SE 8 | S 12 | S 16 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 |
350 | 200 | — | 45 | — | — | — | 406 | 288 | 12 | 126 | 144 | 333 | 79 | 45 | 15 | 15 | 44 | 32 | 33 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 9 | — | S 18 | S 17 | SE 10 | — | SE 16 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | NE 14 | E 13 | S 17 | S 17 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 127 | — | 25 | 92 | 94 | — | 10 | 18 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | — | S 13 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 4 | NW 2 | NW 4 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | WSW 5 |
2457 | 1601 | 1399 | 1261 | 3345 | 8216 | 5680 | 4369 | — | 1585 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 29 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 93 | 93 | 78 | 113 | 422 | 169 | 91 | 93 | 82 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 33 | 7 | 33 | 141 |
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.











