Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.2° C
1.6° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,606 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. 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 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9PM (Thu 20th Aug)6ft (1.8m) 8s
Best Surf 9AM (Fri 21st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s
Most Powerful 3AM (Wed 19th Aug)18ft (5.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Righto, let’s have a look at what Rolling Stones has in store for us. It’s a solid reef setup, takes a south swell, and it’s fairly consistent, so when the conditions line up, it can be a proper session.

The water’s sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent suit on.

First up, the start of the week is a write-off. Tuesday the 18th is a mess – strong cross-shore winds, lumpy, and the wave quality is just not there. Wednesday the 19th is the same story, just a lot of energy but blown out. Thursday the 20th is a little cleaner but still marginal, with moderate cross-shore chop. It’s not until Friday morning the 21st that we finally get a proper window. The wind goes light offshore from the northwest, and we’ve got a solid 6ft south swell with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is pumping at 1581 (moderate to strong). That’s a stand-out session for experienced surfers – clean, powerful, and those long-period lines will be lining up nicely on the reef. Friday afternoon stays clean with a cross-off breeze and 5ft waves, still good but a notch down.

Saturday the 22nd has some smaller clean waves, 4ft in the morning dropping to 3ft in the afternoon, with offshore winds. It’s surfable but ordinary. Sunday the 23rd is tiny and not worth paddling out for.

Then we hit a bit of a flat patch until Wednesday morning the 26th. That’s another beauty – light offshore wind from the northwest again, a solid 6ft south swell with a 15-second period, combined energy of 1386 (moderate to strong). This is a standout for experienced surfers: clean, powerful, and consistent. Wednesday afternoon stays excellent with glassy conditions and 5ft waves. Thursday the 27th is very good too, with moderate offshore wind and 5ft, plus glassy conditions in the afternoon.

After that, it tapers off through the end of August into smaller, weaker swells. But then Monday the 31st of August kicks back in with a 6ft SSW swell and a 14-second period, light offshore wind, and combined energy of 1376. That’s another excellent session for experienced surfers. The afternoon sees a bigger 10ft south swell but with a light cross-shore wind, so it’s more for the brave.

Into September, Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd have big 7ft to 10ft south swells with long periods, but the winds are cross-on or light cross-shore, so the quality is marginal. That’s big, powerful surf but not perfect – definitely expert territory if you paddle out.

Overall, the real standouts are Friday the 21st of August and Wednesday the 26th of August. Both have clean offshore winds, solid south swell, and long period. That’s the time to be in the water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 11°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sat night).

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
3
4
3
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
SSW
8
4
S
10
5.5
S
12
4.5
S
11
4
S
11
2.5
S
14
2
S
8
2.3
S
8
1.7
S
8
1.7
S
16
1.5
S
15
1.2
S
13
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.4
S
10
0.3
ESE
12
1.1
S
16
1.2
S
15
1.3
SSW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
657
3321
8514
5541
3957
2785
562
737
401
1456
945
480
339
205
149
72
33
30
582
627
617
Wind (km/h)
40
SW
50
SSW
55
SSW
40
S
30
SSW
20
WSW
20
WSW
20
SSW
5
WNW
5
NNW
10
NE
15
NW
15
WNW
10
NNW
25
NW
30
NW
20
NNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
20
WNW
35
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross-on
glassy
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:46AM1.75m
10:10PM1.71m
10:33AM1.72m
10:59PM1.67m
11:22AM1.67m
11:48PM1.62m
12:14PM1.62m
00:35AM1.57m
1:06PM1.58m
1:22AM1.51m
1:56PM1.54m
2:10AM1.45m
2:43PM1.52m
2:58AM1.40m
Low Tide
4:01PM0.28m
4:27AM0.30m
4:51PM0.34m
5:15AM0.36m
5:41PM0.40m
6:03AM0.41m
6:30PM0.44m
6:49AM0.45m
7:20PM0.47m
7:35AM0.46m
8:10PM0.48m
8:23AM0.46m
8:57PM0.47m
part cloud
light rain
mod rain
rain showers
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:52
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:32
5:34
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
 mm
3
7
2
Temp °C
10
8
8
9
9
10
11
11
9
13
15
12
15
17
14
16
16
14
17
17
14
Feels °C
0
-2
-3
0
2
4
7
7
7
12
12
7
12
14
8
12
12
9
13
12
8
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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