
Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 10s period, S swell with 3,437 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid window coming up, but you’ve gotta be patient. The first couple of days are a write-off with messy, cross-onshore wind and big, lumpy swell. Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th morning are the turning point.
Wednesday morning the 29th at Rolling Stones, the wind swings clean offshore from the NNW at just 3 mph, the swell is a solid 6 ft from the SE with a long 13-second period, and the combined energy is pumping at 2630. That’s a proper groundswell with serious grunt. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. This is a reef break, advanced only, and it’s fairly consistent. Crowds are possible, so get in early. The morning session is the standout of the first week.
Thursday the 30th keeps the good times rolling with offshore winds again, smaller at 5 ft from the ESE, but still clean and fun. The energy drops a bit (706), but it’s still a good wave.
Now, look ahead to Tuesday the 4th of August. That morning is a gem. Glassy conditions, wind is dead calm, and the swell is 4 ft from the S with a 19-second period. That’s a very long-period groundswell, and the energy is 1611. For a reef, that’s going to produce some beautiful, lined-up waves. It’s excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon even goes glassy, with a 6 ft swell from the S. That’s a standout day.
Sunday the 9th of August morning is another beauty: glassy again, 8 ft from the S with a 15-second period, and energy at 2525. That’s a lot of power, but with zero wind, it’ll be clean and heavy. Experts only, for sure.
The second week has a few more promising windows, but the wind gets a bit more tricky. Monday the 10th morning is glassy with 5 ft from the SSE, worth a look.
Overall, the best of the best is Wednesday the 29th morning for the first clean push, and Tuesday the 4th of August morning for that long-period, glassy perfection. Don’t sleep on the 9th either.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu night, strong winds from the SSW by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 16 | SW 5 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
816 | 2046 | 1847 | 1326 | 1077 | 933 | 722 | 518 | 379 | 302 | 239 | 190 | 109 | 119 | 134 | 1788 | 1507 | 2496 | 2795 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | on |
High Tide | 4:23AM1.45m | 4:53PM1.55m | 5:09AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.55m | 5:56AM1.42m | 6:22PM1.55m | 6:43AM1.44m | 7:06PM1.57m | 7:30AM1.47m | 7:50PM1.58m | 8:14AM1.51m | 8:34PM1.61m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:23PM0.49m | 10:40AM0.45m | 11:08PM0.46m | 11:24AM0.41m | 11:53PM0.41m | 12:05PM0.37m | 00:38AM0.36m | 12:47PM0.33m | 1:23AM0.32m | 1:30PM0.31m | 2:07AM0.29m | 2:15PM0.29m | 2:50AM0.27m | ||||||
— | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — | |
mm | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 9 |
Temp °C | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Feels °C | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -2 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SE 15 | SE 14 | SE 13 | E 15 | E 14 |
816 | 2046 | 1847 | 1326 | 1077 | 933 | 722 | 518 | 379 | 302 | 239 | 190 | 109 | 66 | 116 | 125 | 85 | 4 | 4 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | NE 5 | NE 5 | SE 15 | SE 16 | ESE 10 | E 16 | E 16 | ENE 15 | S 19 |
64 | 27 | 37 | 36 | 34 | 20 | 162 | 188 | 110 | 61 | 17 | 5 | 59 | 119 | 21 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | — | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 18 | — | N 3 | S 16 | SSW 14 | SE 15 | SSE 11 | SW 6 | E 17 | ENE 16 | S 21 | — | — |
— | 46 | 37 | — | 6 | 5 | 106 | — | 1 | 21 | 36 | 36 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 25 | 8 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SSE 8 | S 9 | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 3 | NNE 4 | NE 5 | NW 3 | WNW 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | SW 5 | SSW 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 |
675 | 511 | 445 | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 134 | 1788 | 1507 | 2496 | 2795 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 82 | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 65 | 82 | 113 | 258 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










