Surf Forecasts:
Rolling Stones surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 31 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with 3,794 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Saturday (Aug 29) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 13s. 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 30) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rolling Stones over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mates, Rusty here. Let's have a yarn about what’s heading our way.
It’s a strange start with a bit of a lull, but the real action is a big pulse of south swell that hits in the second half of the coming week and again further out. There’s one standout session that has me buzzing, but you’ve got to be patient and pick your windows, especially with that wild Monday and Tuesday in between.
First up, we’ve got a little something to wet the line this Saturday morning at Rolling Stones. Only 3ft of south swell on a nice 12-second period, but it’s clean with a gentle cross-off breeze. It’s small, but it’ll be the best of a pretty quiet couple of days.
Now, Monday the 31st of August is a weird one. There’s a big jump in swell—8ft from the SSW—but the wind is a messy cross-on in the morning, making it a washout. The afternoon saves the day, though. The swell drops a bit to 7ft from the south, and the wind swings light cross-off. That session is a gem: clean conditions and a solid wave energy (1276) for a strong paddle. It’s a bit much for beginners, but good fun for the rest of us. Tuesday the 1st of September is a write-off with strong onshore winds and lumpy 10ft waves. Only experts should even think about it, and even then, it’s ugly.
The real standout, the one you’ve got to circle on your calendar, is Wednesday the 2nd of September. Both the morning and afternoon are incredible. The morning kicks off with 8ft of south swell, clean as a whistle under glassy offshore winds from the NNW. That is top-tier for experienced surfers, with a combined swell energy of 2130—strong and powerful stuff. The afternoon is even bigger, pushing 10ft from the south on a very long 16-second period (3794 energy). That’s heavy groundswell that will draw lines perfectly down this reef. It is a proper expert-only day due to the size and power. The long period will mean long lulls, but the sets will be memorable.
After that, Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th of September drop off in size, staying in the 3ft to 6ft range with clean but moderate winds. A bit ordinary, but still surfable.
We then have a bit of a gap before the next big pulse on Sunday the 6th of September. That Sunday morning delivers a repeat of the big stuff: 8ft of south swell, 16-second period, and light offshore wind. It’s another day for the experienced crew (2633 energy). The afternoon is a touch smaller at 6ft but still clean and powerful. After that, the week fades to small, clean, and weak conditions, with just a couple of glimmers around Wednesday the 9th and Thursday the 10th of September—4ft to 5ft of south swell with clean, glassy winds. Nothing huge, but a good time for a log.
Keep your eyes on that Wednesday the 2nd and the Sunday the 6th. Those are the days worth rearranging your schedule for. The rest is a mixed bag of waiting. Given that Rolling Stones is a fairly consistent reef and the forecasts can shift, don’t be too disheartened if the lulls feel long—it’ll fire again.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat morning, min 9°C on Mon morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 5°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 17 | S 9 | S 12 | SSW 12 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
350 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 78 | 34 | 63 | 2947 | 656 | 1471 | 1281 | 3393 | 2466 | 2130 | 3794 | 3107 | 1196 | 663 | 285 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 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 | 9:59AM1.73m | 10:30PM1.68m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:52AM0.23m | 4:20PM0.25m | |||||||
— | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | |
mm | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
Feels °C | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 | ENE 9 | NE 9 | S 9 | S 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 12 | S 12 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 |
350 | 216 | 202 | 154 | 78 | 34 | 71 | 41 | 656 | 1471 | 21 | 9 | 2466 | 2130 | 3794 | 3107 | 1196 | 663 | 285 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 8 | SSW 5 | NE 9 | S 16 | ENE 9 | — | S 24 | ENE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 |
7 | 27 | 25 | 32 | 12 | 28 | 15 | 97 | 620 | 16 | — | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 13 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 | NE 6 | SSW 14 | — | NE 9 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 27 | 20 | 39 | 15 | 9 | 63 | — | 19 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | SW 3 | SW 4 | NW 2 | SSW 17 | — | WNW 3 | SSW 12 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | NW 3 | WNW 4 | NW 3 |
45 | 36 | 24 | 64 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2947 | — | 7 | 1281 | 3393 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 16 | 7 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 92 | 0 | 155 | 103 | 84 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 33 |
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.











