
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 31 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 4 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, S swell with 7,153 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 2 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 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 Sunday (Aug 02) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 16s. 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 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 04) at 3PM. 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Tue 4th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks. We’re looking at a single spot, a proper reef setup called Rolling Stones. It’s an advanced wave, not for the faint of heart, and it’s fairly consistent, so we’ve got some options to work through.
The window opens up right now. We’ve got a bit of a rough start, though. Friday the 31st stays clean but small, with waves around 3ft to 3ft from the ESE. The energy is weak (237), and the water is a bit colder than usual for this time of year at 55°. It’s a waste of a good offshore wind, honestly. Saturday the 1st of August is a complete write-off – strong, lumpy cross-onshore winds and a messy 10ft to 13ft swell. That’s not for paddling, that’s for kite gear.
The first real standout arrives on Sunday, August 2nd. The morning is the call. We’ll see a clean 8ft S swell with a nice 12-second period. The wind is light and offshore from the W, making for some seriously clean conditions. The energy is strong (1998), and this is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The afternoon hangs in there, but it gets a bit crossed up, so hit it early.
Monday the 3rd and Tuesday the 4th are a mixed bag. Monday morning has a clean 5ft S swell, but the energy drops off (566). Tuesday is another big, windy mess with a 13ft S swell and terrible onshore wind. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th are marginal, with moderate onshore winds and choppy conditions on that 7ft to 10ft S swell.
Now, for the second standout, you want to look at the weekend of August 7th, 8th, and 9th. Friday the 7th morning goes glassy! A light NW wind and a 4ft S swell. It’s small but clean. Saturday the 8th morning is even better – glassy again with a 4ft S swell, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy (748), and it’ll be peeling down that reef. Then Sunday the 9th morning is the pick of the bunch: glassy conditions, a 7ft S swell, and strong energy (1160). Expect very good, clean waves. The afternoon on Sunday gets a bit bigger and messier, but the morning is the window.
Into the second week, things get more powerful but also more complicated. Monday the 10th of August has a nice offshore wind from the N, with a 10ft to 13ft SE swell. The afternoon session on the 10th is notable for experienced surfers: a 13ft ESE swell with long period (9 sec) and a clean offshore wind, producing excellent conditions. The energy is huge (2672). Tuesday the 11th keeps that big E swell (13ft) but with stronger cross-offshore winds. That’s still surfable for the confident crew. Wednesday the 12th offers a similar story, with a 8ft to 10ft E swell and clean offshore winds in the morning. The energy is still very strong (2924). Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are holding solid 10ft S swells, but the winds are a bit cross-off, keeping it clean but a little lumpy. The final stretch on Saturday the 15th of August winds down with a clean 5ft to 5ft ESE swell under moderate offshore winds – a decent cap to a wild run.
If you’re after the best of the best, don’t miss the glassy morning on Sunday, August 9th – that’s the true standout for clean, powerful surf. The Saturday the 8th morning is a close second for that super-long period groundswell magic. Remember, this is an advanced reef, so crowds are possible, and you need to know what you’re doing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 5°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sat afternoon, calm by Sun afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 14 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
190 | 154 | 103 | 1692 | 3478 | 3785 | 1993 | 1158 | 846 | 530 | 333 | 501 | 3803 | 7153 | 4168 | 3372 | 3100 | 2043 | 1256 | 836 | 533 | |
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-on | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 7:06PM1.57m | 7:30AM1.47m | 7:50PM1.58m | 8:14AM1.51m | 8:34PM1.61m | 8:57AM1.55m | 9:19PM1.63m | 9:39AM1.59m | 10:04PM1.65m | 10:22AM1.63m | 10:51PM1.66m | 11:10AM1.67m | 11:41PM1.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:47PM0.33m | 1:23AM0.32m | 1:30PM0.31m | 2:07AM0.29m | 2:15PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.27m | 3:02PM0.29m | 3:34AM0.27m | 3:49PM0.29m | 4:19AM0.27m | 4:38PM0.30m | 5:05AM0.28m | 5:29PM0.31m | ||||||||
7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:22 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | E 17 | E 16 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 14 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 |
190 | 154 | 103 | 121 | 6 | 5 | 1993 | 1158 | 846 | 530 | 333 | 501 | 3803 | 7153 | 4168 | 3372 | 3100 | 2043 | 1256 | 836 | 533 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NE 6 | SE 15 | ESE 10 | E 11 | E 10 | E 16 | SSE 14 | ENE 14 | S 22 | S 20 | S 18 | E 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | SE 16 | ESE 15 | NE 10 | E 10 |
36 | 12 | 58 | 35 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 213 | 21 | 36 | 68 | 99 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 42 | 21 | 4 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SE 15 | SW 5 | E 17 | ENE 17 | ENE 16 | ENE 16 | E 15 | S 19 | ENE 13 | S 12 | NE 13 | — | — | — | — | E 18 | NE 11 | E 18 | SE 14 | E 16 |
47 | 37 | 5 | 6 | 29 | 25 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 6 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 6 | 73 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | SSW 9 | S 11 | S 13 | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 3 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NE 3 | NE 4 |
80 | 5 | 10 | 1692 | 3478 | 3785 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 10 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 8 | 1 | 113 | 113 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 82 | 55 | 33 | 7 | 7 | 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.











