Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 21 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 19s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 21 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 18s period, S swell with 1,439 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s 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 Tuesday (Sep 15) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 13s. 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 1.5m 18s 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 0.9m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Tue 15th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 21st Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 19s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Mon 21st Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu at Rolling Stones over the next couple of weeks. This is a solid, advanced reef set-up that needs the right combo to fire, and we’ve got a bit of a wait for the real gold.
The opening days have some waves but nothing to write home about. Tuesday the 15th sees a clean 5ft south swell with light cross-off winds, so the morning is surfable and the water temp feels about average for the time of year. The energy is moderate at 481. The afternoon gets choppier as the breeze picks up. Wednesday and Thursday mornings have small, clean surf with light winds, but the swell is tiny (3ft to 3ft) and weak (energy around 155 to 159). It’s barely worth a paddle.
Friday the 18th through the weekend gets ugly. Strong winds and messy, lumpy conditions blow out any quality. The swell jumps to 8ft on Friday afternoon with a short, weak 7-second period and poor cross-onshore wind. The energy is high but it’s junk. Saturday has a 5ft south swell with a 6-second period, and Sunday stays poor with onshore winds. Not worth suiting up.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Monday the 21st is a standout. We’ve got a 4ft south groundswell with a very long 19-second period and light cross-off breezes. The combined energy is massive at 2058. This is a proper, powerful groundswell that will unload on the reef. Experienced surfers only, and expect some lulls between sets. Crowds are possible here. The glassy conditions on Wednesday the 30th of September are another real highlight: a 6ft south swell with a 17-second period and glassy winds. Energy is 2098. That’s a day to mark on the calendar, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.
There’s a gap of poor surf from the 18th through the 20th, and then again from the 22nd through the 27th, with only marginal or ordinary conditions. The best of the rest is Monday the 28th of September, with a clean 8ft south swell and offshore wind (energy 893), but it’s a shorter period at ̀seconds, so it’ll be a bit fat and less organized than the 21st or 30th.
For the true standouts, lock in Monday the 21st and Wednesday the 30th. Both are big, long-period south swells with clean winds. This is expert territory. If the winds hold, it’ll be world-class.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu night, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the SSW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 14 | SE 12 | S 7 | SE 8 | S 6 | S 8 | S 14 | S 12 | S 6 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 699 | 434 | 332 | 207 | 113 | 94 | 224 | 138 | 87 | 99 | 252 | 481 | 145 | 188 | 413 | 261 | 390 | 204 | 373 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SE 12 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 11 | S 8 | S 12 | SE 10 | S 8 |
| kJ | 699 | 434 | 332 | 207 | 113 | 94 | 224 | 138 | 87 | 51 | 252 | 167 | 145 | 107 | 119 | 235 | 390 | 87 | 373 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 13 | S 16 | S 16 | NE 5 | SSW 9 | SE 12 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 16 | SE 14 | NE 6 | ENE 8 | SE 12 | SE 12 | SE 8 | SE 11 | SE 11 | S 16 | SE 10 |
| kJ | 3 | 44 | 19 | 13 | 17 | 38 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 99 | 6 | 7 | 137 | 130 | 54 | 202 | 94 | 21 | 84 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 13 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SE 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 8 | NE 5 | E 11 | NE 8 | SSW 16 | ENE 10 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SE 6 | E 11 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 2 | 3 | 48 | 17 | 25 | 28 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 50 | 33 | 73 | 261 | 9 | 2 | 47 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ENE 3 | NNE 5 | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 4 | — | S 6 | S 7 | SSW 6 | S 6 | S 8 | N 2 | — | S 6 | — |
| kJ | — | — | 5 | 35 | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | 217 | 481 | 139 | 188 | 413 | 1 | — | 204 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 135 | 47 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 33 | 82 | 1 |
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.
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