
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 21 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 21ft (6.5m), 12s period, S swell with 12,424 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. 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 6.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 7s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 27th Jul) | 21ft (6.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Rolling Stones. This is a reef break that takes a south swell, and it’s a fairly consistent, advanced-level wave. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.
The window kicks off on Wednesday, 22 July, with a solid start. We’ve got a clean 1.3m south swell rolling in with a 12-second period, and the wind is glassy in the morning from the WNW at just 5 km/h. The combined energy is a solid 529, which is moderate, but the conditions are prime. The afternoon holds up nicely too, dropping slightly to 1.1m but still glassy with an ESE breeze. This is your best early bet – clean, lined-up waves at a reef break that loves this direction.
Thursday, 23 July, sees the swell drop to 0.8m in the morning, still from the south, but the wind goes cross-off from the north. It’s clean, but the energy is down to 217. Surfable, but nothing to get amped about. The afternoon is even smaller at 0.5m. Friday, 24 July, is a write-off – tiny 0.4m swell with 15 km/h offshore wind, but it's just too small to bother with (energy at 40).
Saturday, 25 July, looks messy. The swell bumps up to 0.9m from the east, but the wind is a cross-off 25 km/h in the morning, then swings to a cross-on shower in the afternoon. The energy jumps to 414 in the afternoon, but it’s choppy and not worth it.
Now, Sunday, 26 July, is a standout. The morning brings a 1.9m south swell with a 9-second period, and it's dead glassy – zero wind. The energy is 951, which is moderate to strong. This is a really good session if you can get out. The afternoon gets a bit bigger at 2.0m, but the wind turns cross-on and the energy spikes to 1232, so it’s not as clean.
Monday, 27 July, is for experts only, and even then, it’s gnarly. A 4.5m south swell hits in the morning with 45 km/h cross-shore wind, energy at 5300. The afternoon goes to 6.0m with 55 km/h wind, energy at 11245. This is massive, messy, and dangerous. Kite surfers might be interested, but paddle surfing is off the table.
The next week, from 28 July through to 2 August, is a long run of poor conditions. Swell stays around 2.0m to 2.5m, but the wind is relentless – cross-on, onshore, or strong cross-shore. The energy is high, but the quality is trash. This is a solid gap of about six days where you’re better off staying home.
We finally get a return to form on Monday, 3 August. The morning offers a clean 0.9m south-east swell with 12-second period, cross-off wind from the WNW at 10 km/h, and energy at 413. Nice and clean. Tuesday, 4 August, is smaller again at 0.7m, but the morning is clean with a 16-second period – that’s a long period groundswell, so it’ll be more lined up at the reef, but the energy is only 359.
Then, Wednesday, 5 August, is the absolute best of the whole outlook. The morning sees a 1.3m south swell at 17 seconds – very long period – with a gentle offshore wind from the NW at 15 km/h. Energy is 1025. The afternoon is insane: 3.0m south swell, 16-second period, offshore wind, and energy at 5045. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. Thursday, 6 August, keeps the party going with 3.5m, 14-second period, and offshore wind. Energy is 4641. This is the highlight of the entire forecast – clean, powerful, long-period groundswell at a reef that’s built for it.
So, to wrap it up: the first week has a clean window on Wednesday 22 July and Sunday 26 July morning. There’s a big gap of poor conditions from 28 July to 2 August. Then the second week absolutely fires, with Wednesday 5 August and Thursday 6 August being the standouts. If you’re an advanced surfer, those are the days to circle.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri night, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Sun morning, near gales from the SW by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | SSE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
905 | 501 | 342 | 326 | 184 | 75 | 34 | 30 | 16 | 103 | 191 | 191 | 1004 | 524 | 635 | 1884 | 4455 | 10226 | 8627 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | glassy | glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | on |
High Tide | 11:33PM1.68m | 11:59AM1.65m | 00:24AM1.62m | 12:54PM1.62m | 1:14AM1.58m | 1:46PM1.61m | 2:03AM1.55m | 2:36PM1.59m | 2:51AM1.51m | 3:22PM1.58m | 3:37AM1.48m | 4:08PM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:51AM0.28m | 6:15PM0.36m | 6:39AM0.36m | 7:08PM0.42m | 7:27AM0.42m | 8:00PM0.47m | 8:15AM0.47m | 8:50PM0.50m | 9:04AM0.48m | 9:37PM0.50m | 9:53AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.49m | |||||||
— | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 18 |
Temp °C | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 12 |
Feels °C | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 2 | -4 | -5 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | E 12 | E 11 | E 11 | E 11 | S 9 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 |
905 | 501 | 342 | 326 | 184 | 75 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 103 | 191 | 191 | 114 | 524 | 424 | 346 | 845 | 1019 | 2460 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | S 9 | NE 7 | SE 17 | SE 16 | SE 14 | E 12 | E 12 | — | — | — |
57 | 28 | 29 | 34 | 30 | 37 | 34 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 45 | 107 | 245 | 350 | 129 | 45 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 12 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | ESE 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SE 18 | NE 6 | S 16 | E 10 | SSW 15 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 3 | 18 | 22 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 21 | 77 | 44 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | NNW 2 | N 3 | NW 3 | NE 5 | NW 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 9 | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 12 | SSE 12 |
— | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 73 | 4 | 116 | 1004 | — | 635 | 1884 | 4455 | 10226 | 8627 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 82 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 93 | 167 | 167 | 169 |
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.










