Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 10 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.6°C
1.1° 

Rolling Stones surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Rolling Stones surf forecast from 10 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with 3,929 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 11 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 18s 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 Friday (Sep 11) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 11s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Fri 11th Sep)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 12th Sep)7ft (2.2m) 15s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sun 13th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a solid run of surf coming up at Rolling Stones, a reef break that’s built for the advanced crew. It’s a fairly consistent spot, and while it can get a crowd sometimes, the quality on offer will make it worth battling for a few waves. Water temps are sitting about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The window kicks off Friday the 11th. The morning’s a bit of a write-off with light rain and a cross-onshore breeze messing things up, but things turn around quickly. Friday afternoon the wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell bumps up to 2ft from the south with an 18-second period. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, and at a reef like this, it’ll set up beautifully. Clean, glassy, and the combined energy is moderate (450). It’s a ripper start.

Saturday the 12th is a bit of a mixed bag. The morning is choppy and messy, but the afternoon sees the swell pushing 4ft from the south, still with a decent 16-second period. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the energy is building (958). It’s a marginal call, but there’ll be waves.

Now, Sunday the 13th is the standout. The morning is clean, with a cross-offshore wind, and the swell hits 8ft from the south, with a 15-second period. The combined energy is strong (2701). This is a big, powerful swell, and it’s only for the experts – 8ft at a reef demands respect. The morning session is the one to chase. The afternoon gets messy with a cross-onshore, so don’t sleep in.

Monday the 14th is another gem. The morning is clean, with a light cross-offshore breeze, and the swell is still a solid 6ft from the south, with an 11-second period. The energy is moderate (859), and the conditions are very good. The afternoon holds up too, with a clean 6ft swell.

Tuesday the 15th is smaller but still fun. The morning is clean, with 4ft south swell and a 10-second period, light energy (313). It’s a good option for a more relaxed session.

After that, the surf starts to fade. Wednesday the 16th has small, clean waves but nothing to get excited about – 2ft and 2ft. Thursday the 17th is a write-off with rain and strong winds, and the swell is tiny or messy.

There’s a bit of a gap from Thursday the 17th through to the end of the second week. Friday the 18th is a complete no-go – 25 mph cross-onshore winds and a massive 13ft south swell, but it’s a total mess. That setup is more for kite surfers than paddle surfers.

The following Saturday the 19th shows promise again. The morning is clean, with a 6ft south swell and a 14-second period, and the energy is strong (1343). It’s a marginal call on the tide, but the wind is right. Sunday the 20th is smaller, with a 3ft south-southwest swell in the morning, clean but ordinary.

From Monday the 21st through to the end of the forecast on Saturday the 26th, the surf is mostly small and weak, with nothing to recommend. There are a few brief windows of clean conditions, but the swell is below 3ft and the energy is low. It’s a quiet end to the period.

So, the best of the bunch is Sunday the 13th morning at Rolling Stones for the big, powerful south swell and clean conditions. Monday the 14th morning is a close second. Don’t sleep on them.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
Tuesday
15
Wednesday
16
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
1
0
1
3
3
0
2
3
2
2
2
0
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
16
0.5
S
19
0.7
S
18
0.6
S
18
0.7
S
17
1.3
S
16
3
S
15
2.5
S
15
2.1
S
14
1.9
S
13
1.9
S
11
1.7
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.1
S
10
0.9
S
10
0.8
S
10
0.6
S
9
0.5
S
9
0.3
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
80
182
318
222
280
912
3523
2701
1638
1145
859
830
482
262
153
113
58
41
14
Wind (km/h)
10
S
15
SSW
5
ENE
15
W
25
SSW
15
S
15
NNE
15
W
20
S
10
SW
10
NNE
20
NE
10
W
5
W
15
E
10
WNW
10
NW
15
NW
20
NNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
5:08AM1.63m
5:33PM1.75m
6:03AM1.67m
6:25PM1.75m
6:56AM1.71m
7:15PM1.74m
7:45AM1.75m
8:04PM1.73m
8:30AM1.77m
8:52PM1.71m
9:14AM1.76m
9:39PM1.68m
Low Tide
10:59PM0.13m
11:19AM0.11m
11:53PM0.14m
12:11PM0.13m
00:45AM0.17m
1:02PM0.18m
1:33AM0.22m
1:52PM0.24m
2:19AM0.27m
2:43PM0.29m
3:05AM0.33m
3:31PM0.34m
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:11
6:09
6:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:53
5:54
5:55
5:57
5:58
5:59
 mm
1
1
1
Temp °C
12
10
13
11
12
12
10
14
13
11
14
16
13
15
15
13
17
18
14
Feels °C
10
7
12
7
8
9
6
9
8
9
11
12
10
13
12
11
14
14
9
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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