
Surf Forecasts:
Stent Road surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 17s period, WSW swell with 13,594 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Stent Road this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Stent Road in the next 16 days are 5.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) 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 0.4m 6s period and expected on Friday (Sep 18) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 16ft (5.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab your rubber, let's have a look at what's coming down the line here. This is a bit of a tough stretch if you're after clean perfection, but there are some moments that'll get the heart pumping if you're willing to work for it.
First up, the big story: Stent Road. This is a serious reef and point setup, only for those who know what they’re doing—advanced crew only. The water temp is sitting at 58°, which is about 1° warmer than usual for this time of year. Nothing crazy, just a touch of extra comfort for this neck of the woods.
Right out of the gate on Friday, September 11th, there’s a massive pulse of energy. We’re talking a solid 12 to 13 ft swell hammering in from the WSW. The combined energy is ridiculous—pushing 8769 on Friday morning. This is serious groundswell with a period of 18 to 19 seconds, which is very long. At a spot like Stent Road, a reef and point, that long period will translate into some incredible, deep-water lines. The morning is looking okay with a cross-shore, but it’s not clean perfection. By the afternoon, a strong onshore wind kicks up and just annihilates the surface. It’s big and powerful, but it’s going to be a battle against the wind.
Over the weekend, Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th, the swell peaks even higher. We're looking at 15 to 16 ft waves. The energy numbers are astronomical—13,680 on Saturday afternoon alone. But the wind is a problem. It’s a strong cross-onshore all weekend, making conditions sloppy, lumpy, and messy. This is big-wave territory and with that wind on it, it’s more of a survival mission than a fun session. For most, it’s a no-go unless you’re a tow-in crew with a death wish.
Monday the 14th eases off slightly to a still hefty 8 to 10 ft, but it’s still choppy and cross-onshore. There’s a slim window of hope on Tuesday morning, September 15th, with the swell dropping to 6 ft and a gentle cross-onshore. It’s still fairly choppy though, and only a 1 or 2 out of 10 chance of it being good.
The middle of the week goes flat and ugly. Wednesday, September 16th sees the swell bottom out to 3 ft or less. The energy drops into the low hundreds. Not much to get excited about there.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. On Monday, September 21st, there’s a real standout. The swell is back to a solid 10 ft from the WSW, with a good 14-second period (moderate-to-long groundswell). The combined energy is back up at 3915, a moderate to strong pulse. And the wind? For the first time in this forecast, we’ve got a light, clean cross-offshore breeze. This is the one to circle on the calendar. For advanced surfers, Monday morning is the best window of the whole 16-day run. The waves will have size and power, but that offshore wind will keep the face tidy. It won’t be perfect all day, but that morning is the best on offer.
After that, we slide into a more manageable, but still bumpy, pattern. From Tuesday the 22nd through to Thursday the 24th, you’re looking at 7 to 8 ft with onshore or cross-on winds. Not clean, just workable for the die-hards. A break on Thursday afternoon, September 24th offers another clean window with a gentle cross-offshore breeze and an 8 ft swell, but it’s not as big or exciting as the 21st.
The very last days, September 25th and 26th, are a write-off. The swell drops and wind howls, turning it into a wet, messy, blown-out scene. The swell direction is WSW throughout, which is the optimum for Stent Road, so at least it’s coming from the right angle.
If you’re an advanced surfer chasing power, you live for Monday the 21st. The rest of the run is either too big and windy, or too small and bumpy. That one morning is the gold nugget.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Fri night, light winds from the SSW by Sun night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
8717 | 9534 | 4810 | 5416 | 10793 | 9565 | 9725 | 2818 | 2191 | 3623 | 3157 | 2799 | 1227 | 1042 | 561 | 351 | 290 | 1200 | 1081 | 1622 | 2221 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:38AM3.19m | 9:56PM3.36m | 10:17AM3.25m | 10:34PM3.35m | 10:54AM3.24m | 11:10PM3.27m | 11:30AM3.16m | 11:45PM3.12m | 12:06PM3.03m | 00:21AM2.93m | 12:43PM2.86m | 00:59AM2.72m | 1:24PM2.66m | 1:41AM2.50m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:46PM0.02m | 4:11AM-0.05m | 4:26PM-0.00m | 4:49AM-0.04m | 5:04PM0.06m | 5:25AM0.05m | 5:42PM0.19m | 6:01AM0.20m | 6:19PM0.37m | 6:37AM0.40m | 6:58PM0.58m | 7:15AM0.62m | 7:41PM0.80m | ||||||||
6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | |
— | 6:10 | — | — | 6:10 | — | — | 6:12 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
Temp °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 19 | — | — | — | WSW 16 | — | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | W 10 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 |
8717 | — | — | — | 2887 | — | 2182 | 2818 | 2191 | 3623 | 3157 | 1042 | 1227 | 1042 | 561 | 351 | 290 | 1200 | 1081 | 1622 | 2221 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 | S 10 | S 9 | SW 18 | — | WSW 18 | — | — |
52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | — | 240 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 18 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 9 | WSW 9 | — | — | WSW 14 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 7 | WSW 6 | W 6 | N 4 | — | WNW 7 | WSW 7 |
— | 9534 | 4810 | 5416 | 10793 | 9565 | 9725 | 1726 | 1172 | — | — | 2799 | 235 | 192 | 198 | 139 | 124 | 14 | — | 187 | 205 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 243 | 210 | 105 | 210 | 243 | 210 | 326 | 46 | 17 | 210 | 46 | 39 | 287 | 112 | 217 | 273 | 87 | 112 | 276 | 277 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










