Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with 4,457 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 1 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 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 Tuesday (Sep 01) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 13s period. 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 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Rolling Stones over the next couple of weeks. This spot is a reef break, it takes a solid south swell, and it’s fairly consistent, so when the stars align, it can pump.
Right off the bat, we’ve got some serious size coming through. Tuesday 1st September morning serves up 10ft southerly swell but it’s onshore and messy with a cross-chop – the energy reading is 2822, which is strong, but that wind is a killer. By Wednesday 2nd though, we’re in business. Wednesday morning sees clean 8ft south swell with a light offshore from the NNW – that’s the kind of setup that gets the heart racing. The afternoon is even better: glassy, 8ft south swell with a very long 17-second period, and the energy jumps to 4137. That’s proper groundswell, top to bottom, perfect for advanced surfers. This is the standout of the whole window.
Thursday 3rd morning still has 5ft south swell with a light offshore, clean and punchy – very good conditions. The energy drops back to 867, so it’s still got some push but it’s easing. By Friday 4th, you’re down to 2ft in the morning – surfable but nothing special. Saturday 5th morning brings a small 5ft south-southwest swell (358 energy) with a short 7-second period – it’ll be weak and a bit crumbly. Then we hit a big gap. From Saturday afternoon through to Monday 7th, it’s tiny or flat (0.7ft to 2ft), with poor conditions and strong cross/onshore winds. Tuesday 8th sees another pulse of 10ft south swell (2611 energy) but the wind is cross-shore, and the conditions are marginal – still big, but not clean like earlier in the week.
Wednesday 9th offers a small clean window with 4ft south swell, offshores, and nice clean lines – good for a session if you’re keen. After that, it gets ugly again: Thursday 10th through Saturday 12th morning is mostly small, blown out, or messy. The best of that stretch is Saturday 12th morning – glassy, tiny 2ft south swell with a long 18-second period (300 energy), more of a novelty wave than a proper session. Sunday 13th and Monday 14th are similar – small, clean but very weak. Then Tuesday 15th morning shows some promise: 5ft south swell (730 energy), glassy, with a solid 11-second period – expect good clean waves. The afternoon jumps to 7ft (1123 energy) but the wind swings cross-offshore, and it’s a bit lumpy. Wednesday 16th offers a clean 4ft south swell but nothing that’ll blow you away.
Water temp? Right around average for this time of year, so no need for a steamer unless you run cold.
For the absolute best, lock in Wednesday 2nd September – that afternoon glassy, 8ft, 17-second south groundswell is a proper session for the experienced crew.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | S 12 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1014 | 2822 | 2830 | 3964 | 1933 | 4137 | 2155 | 865 | 529 | 224 | 112 | 71 | 30 | 215 | 111 | 36 | 82 | 55 | 52 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | off | off | glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:29AM1.65m | 8:52PM1.69m | 9:13AM1.70m | 9:40PM1.69m | 9:59AM1.73m | 10:30PM1.68m | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:20AM0.23m | 2:37PM0.24m | 3:05AM0.23m | 3:28PM0.25m | 3:52AM0.23m | 4:20PM0.25m | 4:42AM0.24m | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — |
mm | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 14 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | ENE 11 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 1014 | 22 | 2830 | 3964 | 1933 | 4137 | 2155 | 865 | 529 | 224 | 112 | 71 | 30 | 124 | 111 | 12 | 82 | 55 | 65 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 9 | — | ENE 10 | NE 10 | S 17 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 9 | NE 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 18 | NE 5 | S 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 10 | NE 5 | S 17 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 15 | — | 10 | 15 | 1003 | 13 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 36 | 6 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | SW 5 | S 20 | E 10 | S 16 | E 10 | NE 10 | S 8 | S 5 | SSE 9 | S 17 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 52 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 8 | S 12 | — | — | NNE 9 | — | — | NW 3 | NNE 10 | NW 4 | NNW 3 | NW 4 | WSW 4 | SSW 7 | — | NNE 4 | NNW 2 | N 3 | NW 3 |
| kJ | 480 | 2822 | — | — | 29 | — | — | 5 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 215 | — | 11 | 1 | 11 | 6 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 88 | 41 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 33 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 54 | 48 |
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.
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