Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, S swell with 7,243 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 (Aug 28) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 01) 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 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the charts for our little corner of the world. We’ve got a single spot on the radar, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks.
The overall pattern is that we’re starting off with a bit of a flat spell before a significant pulse of southerly groundswell arrives. The first few days are mostly small and ordinary, but the second half of the period kicks into gear, with a couple of standout windows if you can time it right.
Rolling Stones is our only real option. It’s an advanced reef break that’s fairly consistent and works best with swell out of the south. The water temp is sitting at 54° and that’s a touch colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a good 4/3, maybe booties.
Friday 28th through Sunday 30th is pretty quiet. Waist to chest-high southerly swell, around 4ft to 2ft, with periods dropping from 13 down to 10 seconds. Winds are a mix of cross-off and cross, which keeps it clean but the energy is weak – the combined energy sits between 557 and 58, so it’s limp. Not worth getting too excited about.
Monday 31st sees a bit of a pulse. The morning jumps to 8ft from the SSW, but the period is short at 8 seconds, making it bumpy and weaker than the height suggests. The afternoon pumps up to 10ft from the south with a long 14-second period – combined energy hits 3297 – but it’s cross-shore wind under 10 mph, so a bit messy.
Tuesday 1st September holds 8ft from the south with a solid 13-second period, but fresh cross-shore winds of 18 mph in the morning turn to rain and cross-on in the afternoon. Energy is still high (2084), but the wind chops it up. This is more of a kite-surf setup than a paddle option.
Now, Wednesday 2nd September – this one’s a real highlight. The morning offers 7ft of clean, long-period south swell (12 seconds) with a light NNW offshore breeze at just 3 mph. Combined energy is 1284 – moderate to strong – and it’ll be glassy and clean out there. This is the best early call. Crowds are possible here, so keep an eye out.
After that, we drop back to small, clean but weak surf through Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th, with heights around 4ft to 3ft.
Saturday 5th through Tuesday 8th is mostly flat, with waves barely topping 1ft. A few clean offshore mornings but nothing rideable. Just a lull of several days here with no solid recommendations.
Tuesday 8th shows a spike to 7ft from the south-southwest late in the day, but it’s a short period 6-second windswell with 18 mph cross-off winds – poor quality, not worth it.
Wednesday 9th has 7ft from the south (9 seconds), but cross-shore winds and moderate chop keep it marginal.
Now, Thursday 10th September is the absolute standout of the entire 16-day window. Morning brings 10ft of S groundswell at 13 seconds, with a light offshore NW breeze (9 mph). The water will be glassy, and with combined energy at 2730, it’s strong and deep. This is an advanced-only wave, no place for beginners. Afternoon jumps to 12ft at 16 seconds from the south – energy at 5823, that’s very strong – but winds pick up to 15 mph cross-off, so the morning window is the one to nail. This is a real deep-groundswell event, perfect for a reef like Rolling Stones.
Friday 11th September stays big with 10ft to 8ft, but the wind swings fresh cross-shore and cross-on, ruining the shape. The power is there (over 4500), but the wind will make it a battle.
Saturday 12th September drops to 6ft from the south, with only a light cross-shore breeze, and combined energy at 1009. The morning is rideable but not a standout.
So, to wrap it up: if you’re looking for the one day to circle, make it the morning of Thursday 10th September for that big, clean, groundswell at Rolling Stones. Wednesday 2nd September is your next best bet for cleaner, smaller fun. The rest of the window is either too small, too windy, or too messy to get excited about. Stay patient, and when that big southerly rolls in, you’ll be glad you waited.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the WSW on Sat night, fresh winds from the WSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 7 | S 12 | S 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
901 | 543 | 350 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 80 | 50 | 61 | 686 | 2239 | 2325 | 3669 | 6939 | 3844 | 1976 | 1344 | 915 | 687 | 482 | 338 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:13AM1.70m | 9:40PM1.69m | 9:59AM1.73m | 10:30PM1.68m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:05AM0.23m | 3:28PM0.25m | 3:52AM0.23m | 4:20PM0.25m | ||||||||
6:37 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 19 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | NE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | S 12 | S 14 | SSW 14 | ENE 10 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 |
901 | 543 | 350 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 80 | 84 | 46 | 21 | 2239 | 2325 | 2444 | 9 | 3844 | 1976 | 1344 | 915 | 687 | 482 | 338 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | S 10 | SSW 10 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | — | NE 10 | NE 9 | S 16 | S 16 | NE 10 | ENE 11 | SSW 16 |
5 | 8 | 7 | 27 | 25 | 34 | 15 | 50 | 33 | 50 | 18 | 16 | 20 | — | 14 | 13 | 81 | 181 | 4 | 11 | 81 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 15 | SE 12 | NE 9 | SE 13 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | NE 11 | SSE 15 |
9 | 6 | 3 | 27 | 20 | 38 | 15 | 25 | 61 | 5 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 10 | 11 | 18 | 42 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SW 4 | W 2 | W 4 | SSW 7 | — | WNW 4 | SSW 14 | S 14 | — | — | — | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | NW 3 |
21 | 52 | 36 | 42 | 29 | 66 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 686 | — | 30 | 3669 | 6939 | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | — | 6 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 47 | 33 | 82 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Live 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.











