Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Issued: 11 am 06 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
13.2° C

1.2°C colder than average for this time of year

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 6 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 10s period, E swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, SSE swell with 5,444 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period with E 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) 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 1.8m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 7th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Best Surf 3PM (Tue 7th Jul)6ft (1.8m) 10s
Most Powerful 9PM (Thu 9th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, Rusty here, and I've got the lowdown on Rolling Stones, a solid reef setup that likes a southerly swell. Water's running about 56°F, which is a bit colder than you'd expect for this time of year—so don't be shy with the rubber.

The week kicks off with a bit of a limp start. Monday morning's got a little 4ft east swell but the wind's a cross-offshore, so it's clean enough, but the energy's weak (271). Monday afternoon, forget about it—tiny and onshore. The real spark comes on Tuesday the 7th. Tuesday morning the wind goes glassy, dead calm, and the swell bumps up to 5ft from the east with a solid 9-second period. The energy's already got some weight (601), and it stays clean all day. Tuesday afternoon is even better: 6ft east swell, glassy, with the energy roaring at 768. That's the top of the week for clean, fun waves. Wednesday the 8th sees the swell jump to 7ft from the east-southeast, but the wind gets a bit messy—cross-shore and cross-onshore—so things are lumpy, even with strong energy (1182 in the morning). It's still surfable for the experienced, but it's not as pretty.

Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th are a write-off. The swell gets big and unruly—up to 15ft on Friday—with onshore gales and rain making a proper mess. That's expert-only, and even then, not worth it. Saturday and Sunday the 11th and 12th stay rough with strong cross-onshore winds and choppy conditions on a still-chunky 10ft swell. Tough to paddle out, let alone catch a clean one.

Then there's a gap of a few days with nothing worthwhile. Monday the 13th brings a turnaround: pure offshore wind from the north with a 4ft south swell, long 13-second period, and good energy (643). Clean waves, proper shape—this is your second standout. Tuesday the 14th is smaller, around 3ft, and still clean but weaker. After that, the following days fade into tiny, clean but puny waves until the weekend of the 19th and 20th, when another pulse shows up.

Sunday the 19th afternoon is a weird one: a sudden 10ft south-southwest swell hits, but it's blowing a moderate breeze cross-offshore, so it might be lumpy. The energy's massive (2212), but the wind makes it marginal. Monday the 20th is a full-on storm—50 km/h (31 mph) winds from the northeast, 12ft swell, crazy energy (4992)—a big, messy, expert-only beast. Finally, Tuesday the 21st cleans up nicely: offshore wind from the northwest, 4ft south swell, fresh breeze but clean lines, and the energy's still punchy (521). A solid way to end the run.

Best bets: Grab Tuesday the 7th for glassy, clean 5-6ft east swell, and Monday the 13th for that long-period south groundswell with perfect offshore wind. Crowds are *sometimes* a thing at Rolling Stones, so you might have company on the peak, but it's a reef that holds.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 34mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sunday
12
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
0
2
2
3
3
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
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)
1.3
E
9
0.2
S
20
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.8
E
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
3.5
SSE
9
4.5
SSE
11
4.5
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
2.2
SSE
9
1.9
SSE
9
1.8
SE
8
1
S
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
258
31
541
445
605
855
902
850
650
482
1720
4953
4067
3604
2565
1849
1498
812
549
439
405
Wind (km/h)
15
NNE
10
E
10
NE
5
W
5
S
10
W
15
WSW
15
SW
20
SSW
20
SW
30
SSE
35
SSE
40
S
40
SSW
35
SSW
30
SSW
35
SSW
30
SSW
15
S
10
S
10
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
10:05AM1.50m
10:30PM1.58m
10:48AM1.53m
11:16PM1.60m
11:34AM1.57m
00:04AM1.63m
12:26PM1.63m
00:54AM1.67m
1:22PM1.70m
1:49AM1.70m
2:19PM1.77m
2:46AM1.73m
3:16PM1.84m
Low Tide
4:14PM0.35m
4:46AM0.31m
5:01PM0.35m
5:32AM0.31m
5:49PM0.35m
6:18AM0.31m
6:42PM0.36m
7:07AM0.30m
7:39PM0.34m
8:00AM0.29m
8:39PM0.30m
8:58AM0.26m
9:39PM0.25m
part cloud
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
thunderstorm
heavy rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:01
 mm
8
2
1
1
4
13
2
2
4
2
1
5
2
2
Temp °C
15
11
12
11
12
10
11
12
12
13
13
12
11
10
9
10
10
10
10
10
8
Feels °C
12
9
9
10
11
9
8
10
9
9
8
6
3
2
1
3
3
4
6
7
6
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
E
9
1.7
ENE
9
1.8
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.8
E
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.1
ESE
10
1.8
ESE
10
1.6
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
10
0.3
SSW
19
0.5
S
18
3
SE
10
3
SE
10
0.4
SSW
15
2.3
SE
10
0.5
S
16
1.9
SSE
9
1.8
SE
8
1.6
SE
8
Energy kJ
258
484
541
445
605
855
902
850
650
482
842
74
160
2174
1749
74
992
137
549
439
330
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
14
0.2
S
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
10
0.6
SSW
10
0.6
S
10
0.4
SSW
14
0.6
S
8
0.4
SSW
12
0.6
S
10
0.5
NE
8
0.7
SSW
17
0.6
S
15
0.2
S
21
0.5
S
14
0.4
SSW
10
0.6
S
15
0.7
S
17
1
S
14
Energy kJ
4
31
109
59
77
68
68
48
52
65
35
252
172
36
101
36
159
277
405
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
22
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
7
0.4
SSW
17
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.2
S
18
0.3
S
17
0.2
SSW
21
0.3
SSW
20
0.3
SSW
10
0.8
SSW
15
Energy kJ
9
3
1
97
86
81
175
60
26
49
44
75
19
288
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
ENE
9
1.8
NE
8
0.3
WNW
3
0.5
S
8
1
S
8
1.4
S
6
3.5
SSE
9
4.5
SSE
11
4.5
SSE
10
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
2.2
SSE
9
0.9
SSW
7
Energy kJ
453
423
2
37
115
148
1720
4953
4067
3604
2565
1849
1498
812
73
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
2
3
3
3
2
3
2
4
5
2
2
4
2
4
2
2
2
3
Distance (km)
0
10
0
0
0
0
1
1
41
7
99
113
158
162
91
91
113
84
11
1
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
6
6
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
6
4
5
5
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
7
8
7
5
5
9
6
9
9
5
6
5
4
5
5
4
5
4
4
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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