Surf Forecasts:
Stent Road surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 8 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with 10,595 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 8 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period with WSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Stent Road this week:
The surf forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 14s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Stent Road in the next 16 days are 5.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 7s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Tue 8th Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming down the line at Stent Road. It’s a reef and point setup for the advanced crew, and it's exposed to the swell, picking up whatever the ocean throws at it. The optimum direction is from the SW.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a lot of wind and raw power early on, but it’s messy. Stent Road is going to see a solid pulse of swell starting Tuesday 1st September, but with a strong breeze howling from the SW at 25 mph creating cross-onshore chop, it’s a write-off. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
We’re looking at a bit of a rough stretch here. For the first week, from Tuesday the 1st right through to Monday the 7th, the wind just won't let up. We’re talking SW and NW winds, mostly in the 15 to 28 mph range, and the surf will be big – 10 ft to 16 ft – with moderate to strong wave energy (8648 to 11797 in the brackets). It’s all cross-onshore or messy, and the quality is poor. Saturday afternoon the 5th gives us a slight drop in wind, but it’s still marginal at best with 11 ft on the face.
Now, hold on to your boardies. Tuesday the 8th of September is the standout. The morning is calling for a glassy calm, zero wind, and 11 ft of SW groundswell with a period of 13 seconds. The wave energy is still pumping (3891), but because it’s totally clean, this is prime for the experienced surfer. That’s the one you want to circle on the calendar. The wind turns offshore and very light in the afternoon, but the morning window is the real gem. Be aware that this spot can get crowded.
After that window, things get a bit tricky. The wind swings around from the northern quarter through Wednesday the 9th, bringing a cleaner look but the swell drops right off to 5 ft and the energy is weak (898). Thursday the 10th is a weird one – clean conditions with a cross-offshore wind, but a very long 21-second period groundswell rolling in at 6 ft. That long period will make it wall up, and at a point and reef, it could produce some nice lines, but the energy is moderate and the wind is a strong breeze, so it’s not the best.
The second week – from the 11th to the 16th – is more of the same with a few glimpses of hope. It’s a real mixed bag. Winds from the SW and W will blow onshore or cross-onshore for a lot of it, with solid 10 ft to 11 ft swell. Saturday the 12th morning has a light onshore breeze and 11 ft swell, making it marginal. Tuesday the 15th sees clean offshore winds from the NE, but the swell is still 11 ft and the wind is a fresh breeze, so it’s for the experienced lads only. The energy stays moderate to strong (around 4935 to 5932). Wednesday the 16th is rough with strong offshore winds, dropping the quality again.
If you’re looking for the absolute best, that Tuesday the 8th of September morning is the winner – 11 ft, glassy, and clean. For the rest, it’s a waiting game for a clean window that doesn’t come together perfectly. Keep an eye on it, but that Tuesday is the one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon night, light winds from the WNW by Wed night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 38mm), heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 12°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat afternoon, strong winds from the NW by Sun afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 10 | W 14 | WNW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | W 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
9424 | 8648 | 6730 | 4971 | 3556 | 1426 | 1033 | 2234 | 1208 | 2959 | 1518 | 1846 | 5186 | 6278 | 4739 | 4305 | 4161 | 3423 | 8866 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 11:48PM3.20m | 12:10PM3.08m | 00:26AM3.09m | 12:51PM2.97m | 1:09AM2.94m | 1:39PM2.83m | 2:01AM2.74m | 2:37PM2.66m | 3:06AM2.56m | 3:52PM2.55m | 4:30AM2.45m | 5:21PM2.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:05AM0.12m | 6:21PM0.25m | 6:45AM0.23m | 7:06PM0.40m | 7:31AM0.40m | 7:57PM0.58m | 8:27AM0.58m | 9:02PM0.75m | 9:36AM0.73m | 10:22PM0.84m | 10:58AM0.77m | 11:46PM0.78m | |||||||
— | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | |
— | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:06 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | 21 | 5 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 17 | S 18 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | W 10 | W 14 | WSW 14 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | — |
— | — | — | 52 | 6 | 1426 | 1033 | 2234 | 1208 | 2959 | 1048 | 866 | 376 | 6278 | 4739 | 4305 | 4161 | 3423 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 20 | S 11 | WSW 18 | S 12 | S 12 | WSW 15 | — | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | — | — | NW 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 38 | 10 | 124 | 12 | 3 | 191 | — | 518 | 991 | — | — | 201 | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 18 | S 17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 9 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 8 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | — | — | NW 6 | NW 8 | W 16 |
9424 | 8648 | 6730 | 4971 | 3556 | 498 | 416 | 654 | 105 | 108 | 1518 | 1846 | 5186 | 5519 | — | — | 368 | 1308 | 8866 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 243 | 180 | 243 | 243 | 243 | 271 | 112 | 112 | 232 | 112 | 277 | 284 | 232 | 251 | 250 | 87 | 276 | 229 | 274 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Information about the Stent Road Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Stent Road provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Stent Road can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Stent Road 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 (Stent Road) 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 Stent Road 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Taranaki? If you are looking for accommodation near Stent Road, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Taranaki, consider staying in New Plymouth which is 33 km (20 miles) away.











