Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 27 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.3°C
1.3° 

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 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, S swell with 2,830 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Rolling Stones in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Fri 28th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 13s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 1st Sep)8ft (2.5m) 12s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 31st Aug)10ft (3.0m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Rolling Stones is serving up for the next couple of weeks.

The first part of the outlook is a slow burn, with a small, clean pulse building through the weekend before we get a couple of decent sessions. The main show looks like it could be on Wednesday the 2nd of September, and there's a real wildcard for the experienced crew on Wednesday the 9th.

Friday the 28th kicks things off with solid waist-to-chest high swell at 5ft from the south, packing moderate energy (915). The morning is a bit scratchy with a cross-off breeze, but Friday afternoon cleans right up as the wind turns offshore from the NNW at 12 mph. The swell drops a touch to 4ft, but with a long 13-second period, it’s a proper groundswell. This one’s a goer.

Saturday the 29th drops off quickly. Morning sees 3ft south swell but the wind is cross-off, making it lumpy. Afternoon is smaller at 3ft with a poor forecast. Not worth paddling out for. Sunday the 30th is flat, with tiny 2-2ft leftovers and barely any energy (59-98). A write-off.

Monday the 31st gets a sudden spike in size, but the quality is cooked. The morning is a messy 8ft with a short 8-second period and a nasty cross-shore chop from the WSW at 16 mph. Afternoon blows up to 10ft from the south with a strong 13-second period and massive energy (2778), but it’s still cross-shore and lumpy. This is expert-only territory and not much fun.

Tuesday the 1st of September stays big but miserable. Onshore wind from the south at 16 mph churns up 8-8ft waves. Choppy and cross-on. A hard pass.

Now we get to the highlight. Wednesday the 2nd of September is the one to circle. Morning brings a clean 7ft south swell at 12 seconds, with light offshore wind from the NW at 6 mph. The energy is strong at 1227. This is a classic Rolling Stones session: solid, powerful, and glassy. For experienced surfers, this is pure gold. The afternoon is a little more mixed with a cross-shore wind, but the morning window is prime.

Thursday the 3rd is still a good option. Clean 5ft south swell in the morning with light cross-off wind. The period holds at 12 seconds. A solid, fun option if you missed Wednesday.

Friday the 4th sees the swell fade to 3ft but stays clean with offshore wind. Saturday the 5th is tiny again. The week ahead looks poor until we hit another interesting window.

The second standout is Wednesday the 9th of September. This is a big, clean, glassy morning for experts only. The swell is 7ft from the SSE, but the period is a shorter 9 seconds. The wind is dead glass – WNW at 3 mph – and the energy is very strong at 1431. It’s a raw, powerful, and clean day, but those shorter-period south swells can be a bit walled-up at a reef like this. Still, for the experienced crew, it’s a proper challenge in perfect conditions.

Tuesday the 8th is a windy mess with 12ft junk, and the rest of the second week after the 9th drops back to small, clean but unexciting surf.

Rolling Stones is an advanced reef break that’s fairly consistent but can get crowded. The water temp is about average for this time of year. The south swell direction is exactly what this spot wants to see, so when the wind plays ball, it’s as good as it gets around here.

Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Mon night, light winds from the NW by Tue night).

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
4
3
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
S
16
1.6
S
13
1.3
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.4
SSW
13
2.5
SSW
8
3
S
13
2.5
S
12
2.4
S
12
2.5
S
12
2.5
S
12
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
12
1.7
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1745
901
543
350
266
202
154
80
52
54
795
2773
1901
1728
2017
1827
1227
902
846
Wind (km/h)
25
NNE
20
NNE
15
N
20
N
15
N
15
NE
10
WNW
10
WNW
10
W
30
WSW
30
WSW
20
WSW
35
WNW
25
SSW
20
SW
10
N
10
NW
10
WSW
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
5:22AM1.41m
5:47PM1.53m
6:11AM1.46m
6:33PM1.57m
6:58AM1.52m
7:20PM1.62m
7:44AM1.59m
8:05PM1.66m
8:29AM1.65m
8:52PM1.69m
9:13AM1.70m
9:40PM1.69m
Low Tide
11:15PM0.34m
11:32AM0.32m
00:03AM0.30m
12:17PM0.28m
00:49AM0.26m
1:02PM0.25m
1:35AM0.24m
1:48PM0.24m
2:20AM0.23m
2:37PM0.24m
3:05AM0.23m
3:28PM0.25m
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
light rain
light rain
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:45
 mm
2
9
5
1
Temp °C
11
15
16
14
16
15
13
15
16
14
13
14
13
8
8
7
14
16
12
Feels °C
7
12
13
11
13
13
12
13
14
8
7
9
5
2
4
4
11
12
8
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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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