Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSW swell with 1,188 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 8s period with SSW 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 15s. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here. Let's break down what's on offer at Rolling Stones, a serious reef break that's going to test the patience.
From today, Friday the 4th through Monday the 7th, it's mostly tiny and messy. You'll see a 0.8m swell on the Friday morning but with moderate wind, it's just not worth the paddle. Sunday the 6th morning has a clean 0.7m SSW swell with light offshore breeze, so it's surfable, but it's a long way from firing. Monday and Tuesday are a bust with poor conditions and small waves.
The first real window opens on Saturday the 12th. This is the clear winner for the near term. Saturday morning delivers a clean 2.2m SSW swell with a light offshore breeze, packing moderate to strong energy (1685). It's solid, powerful stuff for experienced surfers. Saturday afternoon turns glassy with a still ripping 1.8m S swell. The water is running around 55°, which is a bit colder than usual, so bring a thick suit. After this, the wind gets messy on Sunday and it goes downhill.
Now, if you can hold out, the one to circle on the calendar is Wednesday the 16th of September. The morning is shaping up to be exceptional for experts. We're looking at a massive, clean 4.0m S swell with light offshore wind, and the energy is insane at 7640. That is a very long period groundswell of 16 seconds, which will produce thick, heavy lines on this reef. That's big, powerful, and not for the faint-hearted. The afternoon still has a 3.5m S swell but the wind picks up a touch. After that, the run of good surf fades out.
So, the plan is simple: survive the flat spell until the 12th, then keep your eyes locked on the 16th for the main event.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 16 | S 9 | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 144 | 71 | 29 | 62 | 63 | 84 | 104 | 103 | 149 | 46 | 44 | 38 | 46 | 59 | 259 | 239 | 191 | 100 | 39 | 27 | 9 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | 4:12AM1.62m | 4:37PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | 7:26AM0.19m | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 12 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | S 17 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 7 | S 7 | SSW 5 |
| kJ | 144 | 71 | 29 | 62 | 63 | 68 | 104 | 28 | 149 | 20 | 32 | 38 | 37 | 33 | 259 | 239 | 191 | 100 | 39 | 27 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | NNE 4 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 13 | S 18 | SSW 18 | E 10 | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 12 | S 11 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | NE 4 | NE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 8 |
| kJ | 2 | 1 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 84 | 56 | 103 | 2 | 46 | 44 | 17 | 46 | 59 | 12 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | S 17 | NE 5 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 5 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | — | E 10 | — | — | NE 5 | NE 7 | SE 6 | E 15 | E 15 | NE 8 | ENE 4 | ENE 9 | S 7 |
| kJ | 8 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 4 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | WNW 4 | SW 4 | NW 3 | — | W 2 | NW 3 | — | NNE 4 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | WNW 3 | NW 3 | WNW 4 |
| kJ | 5 | 11 | 24 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | 20 | 47 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | 1 | 2 | 23 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 33 | 135 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 96 | 81 |
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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