Rainbow Bay surf report
Sheltered bay next to Snapper. Soft, rolling waves on small days, great for learning.
Today at Rainbow Bay (Sat, 3 Oct) · best 5am–8am
Fun.
Glassy, no wind, waist-high waves. Rated for a beginner.
- Barely any wind (3 kn), so it'll be glassy and smooth.
- Waves around waist high (0.7m faces), a good size for a beginner.
- Easterly swell at 6 seconds, an angle this spot likes.
- Low tide and rising at 7am, but this spot prefers mid tide.
- Wind swings northerly 5 kn around 8am, so it'll get choppy.
Forecast checked Sat, 3 Oct, 3:03 am Gold Coast time.
When is Rainbow Bay good?
- Best wind
- South-south-westerly (offshore) or none
- Best swell
- East to south-south-east
- Best tide
- Mid tide
- Suits
- Learner+
Who it suits depends on the size: learners up to about 1.1m, beginners up to about 1.3m, intermediates up to about 2m. Bigger than 2m it is for advanced surfers. Long-period groundswell hits harder, so it counts as bigger.
It is a bit smaller than the open beaches, which keeps it friendly when the swell is up. A south-south-westerly wind blows offshore here, so mornings before the sea breeze are usually cleanest. Get Frothin’ checks the wind, swell, tide and the live wave buoys every hour and tells you, in plain English, whether it's worth paddling out at Rainbow Bay for your level.
Watch out
Surfers from Snapper come racing through on bigger days.
Surf schools at Rainbow Bay
Lessons mean more people in the water. The app flags when a school is out, so you know it'll be busy.
- Coolangatta Learn to Surf. Lessons usually start at 9am, 11am, 2pm.
Frequently asked
What are the best conditions for surfing Rainbow Bay?
Rainbow Bay is best with a south-south-westerly (offshore) wind or no wind, a east to south-south-east swell and mid tide. It is a bit smaller than the open beaches, which keeps it friendly when the swell is up.
What wind is offshore at Rainbow Bay?
A south-south-westerly wind (SSW) blows straight offshore at Rainbow Bay, holding the waves up and keeping them clean. Light winds are good too. Onshore winds make it choppy.
Is Rainbow Bay good for beginners?
Yes. Rainbow Bay is one of the better Gold Coast spots for learners on small days. Check today's call: on bigger days it gets busier and stronger.
What should I watch out for at Rainbow Bay?
Surfers from Snapper come racing through on bigger days.
Are there surf lessons at Rainbow Bay?
Yes: Coolangatta Learn to Surf. Lesson times bring more people into the water, and Get Frothin’ shows when lessons are on, so you can plan around the busy times.
Nearby breaks
- Greenmount 0.6 km
- Snapper Rocks 0.6 km
- Duranbah 1.3 km