Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 13s period, S swell with 3,963 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 31 Aug, 6AM (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 Monday (Aug 31) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 8s. 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 9PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 31st Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Tue 1st Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for Rolling Stones. This is a solid reef set-up that handles a south swell well, and it’s a spot for the advanced crew only. The water temp is sitting pretty much where you’d expect for this time of year, no wild anomalies to report.
The next couple of days are a bit of a write-off, to be honest. Monday the 31st is a non-starter – we’ve got some chest-high swell but the wind is messy and the conditions are poor. Tuesday the 1st of September sees a big jump in size, with 10ft south swell, but the period drops to 12 seconds and the wind is on it, making for a choppy, average-looking day. Not worth paddling out.
Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September, that’s where it gets interesting. The morning shows 8ft of south swell with a 13-second period and a clean cross-off breeze from the northwest. The energy is strong (3034). The afternoon is even better: 8ft south swell, a very long 17-second period, and a glassy north-northeast breeze at just 3 mph. The break will be clean and powerful, but with that size and long period, it’s going to be a heavy, ledgy wave at the reef – strictly for experienced surfers. The energy is seriously strong (5223). This is the standout of the whole forecast.
Thursday the 3rd drops back to a more manageable 5ft in the morning, but the conditions are only marginal. We then hit a dry spell from Friday the 4th right through to Monday the 7th of September, with tiny swell and poor or non-existent surf. A full four days of flatness.
Tuesday the 8th of September morning brings a surprise – a 6ft south swell, 12-second period, and glassy conditions. The combined energy is a solid 1097, and the forecast says expect very good surf. This is another great window, but it’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it.
Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th are back to poor conditions with strong winds and tiny swell. A bit of a lull.
Then, get this – Saturday the 12th of September morning shows a 10ft south swell with a short 8-second period, but with a light west cross-off and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (955). It’s a big, short-period swell, so it’ll be powerful but maybe a bit lumpy. Then Sunday the 13th of September morning is the real monster: 12ft of south swell, a very long 15-second period, and a clean cross-off breeze from the northeast. The energy is immense (5206). This is a serious, groundswell-driven event for experts only. The swell direction is perfect for the reef, and the long period will make for some proper, grinding barrels. This is a standout, but remember it’s two weeks out – promising but not locked in yet.
After that, it fades quickly into smaller, messier conditions for Monday and Tuesday.
So, to sum it up: the best windows are the afternoon of Wednesday the 2nd of September, with a clean, powerful, long-period south swell, and the morning of Sunday the 13th of September, which could be a proper epic session if the forecast holds. Both are for the experienced crew only.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon night, calm by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 16 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
58 | 470 | 847 | 3054 | 2822 | 2831 | 3566 | 2042 | 3927 | 1797 | 749 | 430 | 214 | 79 | 50 | 19 | 36 | 72 | 76 | |
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 | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross | off |
High Tide | 7:44AM1.59m | 8:05PM1.66m | 8:29AM1.65m | 8:52PM1.69m | 9:13AM1.70m | 9:40PM1.69m | 9:59AM1.73m | 10:30PM1.68m | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | |||||||
Low Tide | 1:35AM0.24m | 1:48PM0.24m | 2:20AM0.23m | 2:37PM0.24m | 3:05AM0.23m | 3:28PM0.25m | 3:52AM0.23m | 4:20PM0.25m | 4:42AM0.24m | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | |||||||
— | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | S 17 | S 15 | ENE 9 | ENE 10 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | NE 5 |
47 | 470 | 847 | 8 | 22 | 2831 | 3566 | 2042 | 3927 | 1797 | 749 | 430 | 214 | 79 | 50 | 17 | 36 | 72 | 19 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 8 | S 9 | NE 9 | — | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 17 | S 17 | NE 9 | E 9 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | NE 5 | NE 5 | S 15 | S 15 | S 8 |
58 | 96 | 256 | 20 | — | 10 | 9 | 992 | 1296 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 17 | 34 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | NE 9 | — | — | — | — | ENE 10 | S 9 | S 17 | S 16 | E 10 | S 10 | S 12 |
33 | 53 | 28 | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | 23 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 76 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 4 | NW 2 | WSW 4 | S 13 | S 12 | — | — | NE 9 | NE 9 | NW 3 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 3 | NNE 4 | WNW 4 | SW 4 | NW 3 | ENE 2 | NNE 5 |
10 | 2 | 16 | 3054 | 2822 | — | — | 22 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 38 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1 | 7 | 7 | 88 | 78 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 92 | 135 | 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.











