Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 11 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
13.2° C
1.0° 

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 11 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 17 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 15s period, SE swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with 2,400 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 (Jul 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. 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 3.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 9AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sun 12th Jul)2.5ft (0.8m) 13s
Best Surf 6PM (Fri 17th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 15s
Most Powerful 9PM (Sat 18th Jul)11ft (3.5m) 9s

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


Alright, Rusty here again, this time for my imperial-minded mates. Let’s break down Rolling Stones.

First few days are a dud. Saturday the 11th is all cross-on junk – 7ft of messy SE windswell with moderate energy (1068) but it’s choppy and poor. Not worth a look.

Sunday the 12th drops to 3ft and 3ft of S swell, long-period (15 seconds) but weak energy (617 and 428). Light winds, but barely rideable. Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th are tiny – 3ft down to 1ft – with clean conditions but no power. Energy bottoms out at 33 on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday the 15th is flat – 1ft. So you’re looking at nearly a week of almost nothing.

Thursday the 16th shows a pulse: 2ft from the ESE (14 seconds, 207 energy) with light offshore winds. Thursday afternoon goes glassy with 3ft of clean swell (263 energy). Surfable, but small.

Friday the 17th morning is the first real gem. Rolling Stones is an advanced reef, fairly consistent, exposed to S swell. We’ve got 5ft of long-period S groundswell (15 seconds, 905 energy) with light offshore WNW wind – clean, lined-up, proper. Crowds can pop up here sometimes, but Friday morning should be manageable.

Saturday the 18th morning holds – 5ft from the SE (14 seconds, 1050 energy), light cross-off winds, still clean. Saturday afternoon turns ugly: onshore wind with 10ft of short-period SSW slop (8 seconds, 2302 energy).

Sunday the 19th is the big one. Sunday morning shows 15ft of S groundswell at 15 seconds – combined energy of 10177, very strong. Light offshore north winds make it glassy. This is expert-only – over 8ft is for the serious crew. Sunday afternoon is still excellent: 12ft, same 15-second period, glassy with light S winds. That’s the session if you’ve got the nerve.

After that, it’s a drop-off. Monday the 20th has 8ft but winds go onshore by the afternoon. Tuesday the 21st and Wednesday the 22nd are cross-on and choppy, fading from 5ft down to 2ft.

Then a long-range E swell shows up around Friday the 24th to Sunday the 26th. Friday morning: 10ft of short-period E (9 seconds, 1366 energy) with cross-on wind – messy. Saturday the 25th: 12ft from the east (11 seconds, 3116 energy) but cross-shore chop. Sunday the 26th: 12ft (10 seconds, 2425 energy) with cleaner cross-off NE wind. For this far out, it’s promising but not locked in.

Call it this way: The absolute standout is Sunday the 19th – big, clean, expert-only groundswell. The backup standout is Friday the 17th morning for strong, clean waves. The rest is small, choppy, or a long-range gamble. Water’s 56°, about a degree cooler than usual – you’ll want a thick wetsuit.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue morning, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Sat
11
Sunday
12
Monday
13
Tuesday
14
Wednesday
15
Thursday
16
Friday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
3
3
3
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
SE
9
0.8
S
16
0.9
S
15
0.8
S
13
0.9
S
12
0.9
SE
9
0.8
S
10
0.6
ESE
9
0.5
S
12
0.4
ESE
8
0.3
ESE
10
0.4
ESE
11
0.4
ESE
12
0.5
ESE
13
0.7
ESE
14
0.7
ESE
14
1.1
SE
15
1.4
SE
16
1.7
SE
16
1.7
SE
15
1.6
SE
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
606
338
343
222
216
135
122
56
73
26
20
48
53
95
186
163
523
1014
1412
1246
1006
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
15
SSW
10
WSW
10
SSW
10
NNW
10
NNW
10
NNE
15
NNE
15
N
10
N
10
NW
10
NW
5
WNW
15
NW
5
WSW
10
SSW
0
S
10
NNW
5
ENE
15
NW
40
SW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-on
glassy
off
cross
off
cross-on
High Tide
2:46AM1.73m
3:16PM1.84m
3:46AM1.75m
4:14PM1.90m
4:46AM1.78m
5:14PM1.94m
5:45AM1.79m
6:14PM1.96m
6:44AM1.79m
7:11PM1.96m
7:42AM1.78m
8:06PM1.93m
8:36AM1.77m
Low Tide
8:39PM0.30m
8:58AM0.26m
9:39PM0.25m
10:00AM0.22m
10:38PM0.19m
11:01AM0.15m
11:37PM0.13m
11:59AM0.08m
00:36AM0.09m
12:53PM0.04m
1:34AM0.06m
1:47PM0.03m
2:28AM0.06m
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:24
7:22
7:22
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:01
5:01
5:02
5:04
5:04
5:05
5:06
5:07
 mm
1
2
1
Temp °C
10
10
10
10
8
12
14
12
16
17
12
16
17
13
13
12
12
13
14
10
10
Feels °C
6
6
7
7
6
9
11
9
14
15
9
14
15
10
11
10
11
12
13
7
2
  • Map Icons:
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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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