Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 14 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.7°C
1.1° 

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 14 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 19s period, S swell with 4,864 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s 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 (Sep 14) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m 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 2.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 21) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Mon 14th Sep)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Best Surf 3AM (Mon 21st Sep)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Most Powerful12PM (Mon 21st Sep)8ft (2.5m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at the upcoming stretch. We've only got one spot on the radar this time, the Rolling Stones, a solid reef break that’s best for advanced crew. It handles south swell well and offers up some real quality when the stars align.

Let’s start with what we've got. The water is sitting at 55°, which is about a degree and a half colder than average for this time of year (55°). A bit nippier than usual, so you might want the thicker rubber if you're heading out.

We've got a slow start, but from Monday the 14th, it kicks off with some serious energy. Monday morning sees a solid 7ft S swell with a 12-second period, and it’s *dead glass*. That’s a rare combo – the wave energy is strong here, around 1338. The sets will be chunky and powerful, but with zero wind and that reef underneath you, it’ll be a true standout for the experienced surfer. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you might have a few others in the water, but for a morning like that, it’s worth sharing.

Monday afternoon, the wind swings cross-on and the swell drops a touch to 6ft, making conditions more marginal. The real gem of this first week is that Monday morning session. Tuesday and Wednesday drop in size, but Tuesday morning with 5ft S swell and clean cross-off wind is still a fun ride. Wednesday morning is tiny at 3ft and glassy, but the energy is weak (164).

We hit a rough patch from Thursday the 17th through most of the following week. Swell stays small and winds turn nasty. Friday the 18th is an absolute write-off with gale-force cross-onshore winds and 12ft of messy, short-period slop (2008 energy). That’s more of a kite session than a surf.

Now, hold onto your boards for Monday the 21st. This is the big one. We’ve got a 10ft S groundswell rolling in with a 15-second period. The combined energy is massive at 3738. Early morning the wind is light offshore and clean. This is expert territory only – that’s a powerful, long-period swell that will be pitching hard on the reef. It’s a true standout if you’ve got the nerve and the skill.

After that, the conditions get messy again with cross-onshore winds through the 22nd and 23rd, even though the swell stays big (12ft). The end of the month shows promise again. Friday the 25th morning has a clean 5ft S swell with offshore wind, and by the afternoon it goes dead calm and glassy with 5ft. Saturday the 26th starts glassy too with 6ft S swell.

The very last days, the 29th, bring another solid, clean 6ft S swell with a 15-second period, but the wind is cross-off. Still, for a late burst of energy, it’s worth a look.

Overall, if you can get out Monday the 14th morning, you’re in for a treat. But the absolute standout, the one you mark on your calendar, is Monday the 21st – that big, long period south groundswell with clean conditions. Just remember, it’s for experts only. Get after it.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 51mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Fri afternoon, calm by Sat afternoon).

Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Thursday
17
Friday
18
Saturday
19
Sunday
20
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
2
3
2
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
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)
2.1
S
12
1.9
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.3
S
10
1.1
S
9
0.9
SSE
9
0.8
SSE
9
0.9
SE
11
0.8
SE
10
0.7
SE
9
0.4
SE
15
0.9
SE
13
3.5
S
8
2.5
S
8
1.6
SSE
8
1.2
SSE
7
0.8
SSW
15
0.6
S
13
1.6
S
5
1.7
S
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1333
1145
699
434
332
207
111
94
189
117
83
75
277
1622
916
266
135
292
130
126
336
Wind (km/h)
0
W
10
ESE
10
N
5
NNE
25
NE
10
NW
5
W
10
ENE
15
NW
15
NNW
15
N
15
NE
35
SSW
50
SW
35
SW
15
WSW
5
NW
20
W
35
WSW
35
SW
20
WSW
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
cross
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
High Tide
8:04PM1.73m
8:30AM1.77m
8:52PM1.71m
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
Low Tide
1:52PM0.24m
2:19AM0.27m
2:43PM0.29m
3:05AM0.33m
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
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
heavy rain
rain showers
clear
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:11
6:09
6:07
6:07
6:05
6:03
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
 mm
6
15
29
1
1
1
Temp °C
12
13
11
14
14
12
16
17
12
17
17
14
11
10
10
13
15
15
16
11
9
Feels °C
10
10
9
12
10
9
14
15
9
13
13
11
4
0
2
10
13
10
9
3
3
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
How to use the Wavefinder 
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Rolling Stones:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Rolling Stones surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest