Rolling Stones Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.83° E

Rolling Stones Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Rolling Stones sea temperature is
12.2° C
1.6° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 6,865 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s 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 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM. 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 21st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Best Surf 9AM (Fri 21st Aug)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 6AM (Wed 19th Aug)16ft (5.0m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

G'day, Rusty here. Well, the outlook's a bit of a slow burn, but there's a real cracker hiding in the mix for those who can wait. We've got a solid run of clean conditions lined up for a specific day, but you'll need to work through a fair bit of slop to get there.

Right off the bat, things are messy. Wednesday the 19th and Thursday the 20th are a complete write-off with a fresh cross-onshore wind making a mess of the 13 ft to 7 ft swell. Not worth a look. That carries on through Friday morning the 21st, but then the pattern flips.

The standout is Friday morning the 21st at Rolling Stones. It's an advanced reef break, and it only breaks fairly consistently, but when it's on, it's on. We've got a 6 ft south swell pumping through with a very long 16-second period. That's proper groundswell energy, and the reef setup will handle that long period beautifully. The wind goes light offshore from the NNW, and the combined energy reading is a hefty 2151 – that's strong wave energy. It'll be clean, powerful, and excellent for experienced surfers. The crowd factor says "sometimes" so you might have to share, but for a wave that good, it's worth it. Water temp is about average for this time of year, so no worries there.

The rest of that weekend and into the following week is small and ordinary. Saturday the 22nd sees the swell drop away to 4 ft, and it's just not got the grunt. Sunday the 23rd through to the next weekend are all knee-to-waist high at best, with mostly clean conditions but very little power. There's a long gap of small, average surf from Saturday afternoon until late in the week.

We do get a flicker of hope on Friday morning the 28th. The swell picks back up to a clean 4 ft south swell with a long 16-second period, combined energy of 698, and a moderate offshore from the N. It'll be a clean, fun wave, but not the same standout quality as the Friday before.

Towards the very end of the window, Monday the 31st of August shows a building 8 ft south swell with a 15-second period. The energy reading jumps to 2457, but the wind is a light cross-shore, and the report flags it as marginal. That's one to watch, but it's a long way out and uncertain.

Then into September, we've got a promising-looking Thursday morning the 3rd: a 6 ft south swell, 12-second period, clean with a light offshore. Combined energy sits at 1039. Again, it's a long way out, so keep it on the radar, but don't bet the house on it.

So, the call is clear. The only true standout in the whole 16 days is Friday morning the 21st. Don't waste your energy on the muck before it. If you can't make that, the Friday the 28th is your next best bet. Everything else is a gamble at best.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Fri morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
0
0
3
4
3
3
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
5.5
S
12
4.5
S
11
4
S
11
2.5
S
14
2.1
SSW
8
1.8
S
8
1.7
S
8
1.8
S
16
1.7
S
16
1.3
S
13
1.2
S
12
1
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.4
SE
12
0.4
SE
13
0.8
S
13
1.2
SSW
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
8369
5339
3834
2785
547
450
381
1652
1402
572
393
246
146
71
47
39
44
202
648
Wind (km/h)
50
SSW
40
S
30
SSW
20
SW
25
SW
15
SSW
10
WNW
10
NNW
10
ENE
15
NNW
15
NW
20
WNW
20
NW
20
NW
20
WNW
10
WNW
5
NW
15
NE
10
NW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
10:10PM1.71m
10:33AM1.72m
10:59PM1.67m
11:22AM1.67m
11:48PM1.62m
12:14PM1.62m
00:35AM1.57m
1:06PM1.58m
1:22AM1.51m
1:56PM1.54m
2:10AM1.45m
2:43PM1.52m
2:58AM1.40m
Low Tide
4:27AM0.30m
4:51PM0.34m
5:15AM0.36m
5:41PM0.40m
6:03AM0.41m
6:30PM0.44m
6:49AM0.45m
7:20PM0.47m
7:35AM0.46m
8:10PM0.48m
8:23AM0.46m
8:57PM0.47m
mod rain
rain showers
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:50
6:48
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:34
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:37
 mm
7
2
3
Temp °C
9
9
9
10
11
11
9
14
13
11
17
18
14
17
18
13
15
15
13
Feels °C
-1
0
2
4
6
7
7
12
10
7
13
14
8
12
13
10
13
11
10
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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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