Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with 4,499 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 (Aug 26) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m 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 3.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, same spot, but in feet and miles per hour.
We’re looking at Rolling Stones, a reef break for the advanced crew, with the best swell coming from the south.
Wednesday the 26th of August opens clean. Morning has a light cross-offshore breeze from the NW at 6 mph, with a 3ft south swell running at 18 seconds. That’s long-period groundswell with good power. The water’s at 53°, a bit colder than usual. Combined energy is moderate at 635. A good start.
That afternoon, the wind drops to glassy—calm—and the swell pushes to 3ft south at 16 seconds (energy 561). This is a glassy, clean session.
Thursday the 27th gets a little bumpy. Swell hits 5ft to 6ft south, period 17-18 seconds, energy over 1500—strong. But the wind goes cross-onshore from the S and then E. Not a standout.
Friday the 28th is a nice one. Morning is clean with a cross-offshore NNE breeze, 5ft south at 13 seconds (energy 798). By afternoon, the wind swings fully offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, swell drops to 4ft but still 13 seconds. Energy 542, clean faces.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th fade hard. Swell drops under 3ft, energy falls into the low hundreds. Surfable but ordinary.
Then Monday the 31st of August brings a pulse: 12ft from the SSW with 11-second period, energy 5513. That’s strong. Wind is cross-shore from the WSW at 12 mph though, so messy. Expert only. Afternoon drops to 8ft.
Tuesday the 1st of September is the king. Morning has 18ft swell—massive—but cross-onshore wind makes it ugly. The afternoon? 16ft south swell at 15 seconds, combined energy a ridiculous 12416, and the wind is glassy from the ESE at 3 mph. This is an exceptional, dangerous day for experts only.
After that, the swell backs down. Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd of September are clean and smaller. The 3rd afternoon is glassy with 2ft, 16-second swell, energy 350.
Friday the 4th has a decent afternoon with 3ft swell and offshore NW wind at 9 mph, energy 402.
Second week, the standout is Tuesday the 8th of September afternoon: 7ft south swell at 16 seconds (energy 2290) with a light offshore NNW wind at 6 mph. Clean and powerful for experienced surfers.
Wednesday the 9th stays clean with 5ft south swells, light offshore winds.
Best bets: Tuesday afternoon the 1st of September for the big wave specialists, and Wednesday the 26th of August afternoon for a glassy, manageable session. Crowds are possible, so get there early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Sun night, calm by Mon afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | S 16 | S 17 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SW 5 | SSW 11 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 492 | 535 | 443 | 1357 | 2299 | 1551 | 780 | 534 | 290 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 81 | 33 | 82 | 1628 | 3674 | 1475 | 4176 | 4013 | 1854 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | off |
High Tide | 4:13PM1.49m | 4:33AM1.38m | 4:59PM1.50m | 5:22AM1.41m | 5:47PM1.53m | 6:11AM1.46m | 6:33PM1.57m | 6:58AM1.52m | 7:20PM1.62m | 7:44AM1.59m | 8:05PM1.66m | 8:29AM1.65m | 8:52PM1.69m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:00AM0.41m | 10:29PM0.39m | 10:48AM0.36m | 11:15PM0.34m | 11:32AM0.32m | 00:03AM0.30m | 12:17PM0.28m | 00:49AM0.26m | 1:02PM0.25m | 1:35AM0.24m | 1:48PM0.24m | 2:20AM0.23m | 2:37PM0.24m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 15 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | S 16 | S 17 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | NE 8 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 492 | 535 | 443 | 1357 | 2299 | 1551 | 780 | 534 | 290 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 81 | 33 | 16 | 346 | 3674 | 1475 | 4176 | 4013 | 1854 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SE 13 | SE 12 | SSW 7 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 15 | ENE 5 | ESE 14 | NE 7 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | SSE 10 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | S 16 |
| kJ | 100 | 26 | 23 | 34 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 25 | 18 | 35 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 838 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | NE 10 | E 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | — | SE 15 | SE 15 | — | SE 13 | SE 12 | S 15 | SE 12 | S 14 | SE 12 | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 |
| kJ | 43 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 12 | — | 9 | 8 | — | 27 | 24 | 17 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 26 | — | — | — | — | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | N 3 | NE 5 | — | NW 3 | W 3 | NW 3 | — | SW 5 | SSW 11 | — | W 4 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 4 | — | 4 | — | — | 26 | 35 | 4 | 43 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 82 | 1628 | — | 9 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 55 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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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