Surf Forecasts:
Stent Road surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 31 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 14s period, WSW swell with 8,767 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 4.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 31) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Mon 31st Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Stent Road.
This is a proper reef and point setup, exposed to the swell and needing an advanced skill level. It’s a consistent break, so you can usually count on it to have waves, but the crowds are often there, so you’ll be sharing the peak.
The water temperature is sitting at 57°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.
The first real chance of decent surf isn’t until Friday the 29th of August, in the morning. We’re looking at a small 4ft swell from the WSW, but the wind is cross-on from the SW, making it fairly choppy. It’s a gentle breeze, but it’s not clean. The afternoon gets a bit more wind and a smaller 4ft swell, so not great.
Saturday the 30th of August, the swell jumps up to 10ft from the WSW, but the wind is onshore and fresh, making it lumpy. The wave energy is strong (1794), but the quality is poor. That’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
Sunday the 31st of August is a big one – a 16ft swell from the WSW with a long 12-second period, but the wind is a strong cross-on mess. The energy is huge (7468), but it’s just a washing machine. Not for the faint of heart.
The first half of September is a write-off. The swell is up and down, but the wind is relentless – cross-on, onshore, strong, fresh, lumpy, choppy. The energy is high (up to 8767 on the 31st of August afternoon), but the conditions are “poor” across the board. It’s a long stretch of no-go.
Then, we get to Monday the 7th of September in the afternoon. This is the standout. The swell is 10ft from the WSW with a 14-second period, the wave energy is very strong (6250), and the wind finally drops to a light breeze from the WNW. It’s a light cross-onshore, so the face will be a little rippled but definitely surfable. This is the best window we’ve got – a big, powerful groundswell with light wind. The set gaps will be longer, but the energy is proper.
After that, it’s a mixed bag. Tuesday the 8th of September has a 10ft swell but the wind picks up again. Wednesday the 9th of September has an 8ft swell with a gentle cross-shore, which is a marginal option, but far from the main event.
For the pure power and best chance of a clean wave, the Monday the 7th of September afternoon is the one to circle. The long period (14 seconds) means it’s a groundswell, so it will wrap around the point and reef beautifully. Just be ready for a paddle because the sets will be spaced out.
Alright, that’s the long and short of it. Keep your eye on the sky and the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Fri night, strong winds from the SW by Sun night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Tue morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Tue morning, light winds from the W by Wed night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 10 | NW 9 | WSW 10 | SW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
1203 | 853 | 276 | 293 | 492 | 1018 | 1256 | 3186 | 7468 | 8767 | 8429 | 7999 | 8497 | 5580 | 3917 | 3316 | 1342 | 874 | 2686 | 3067 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 10:06PM3.16m | 10:24AM3.07m | 10:39PM3.23m | 10:58AM3.12m | 11:13PM3.24m | 11:33AM3.13m | 11:48PM3.20m | 12:10PM3.08m | 00:26AM3.09m | 12:51PM2.97m | 1:09AM2.94m | 1:39PM2.83m | 2:01AM2.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:18AM0.17m | 4:30PM0.15m | 4:52AM0.09m | 5:05PM0.12m | 5:27AM0.07m | 5:42PM0.16m | 6:05AM0.12m | 6:21PM0.25m | 6:45AM0.23m | 7:06PM0.40m | 7:31AM0.40m | 7:57PM0.58m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | |
5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | |
mm | 4 | 11 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 7 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | SW 11 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | — | — | — | — | SSE 14 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
1203 | 853 | 211 | 293 | 492 | 662 | 844 | 371 | — | — | — | — | 67 | 21 | 3917 | 3316 | 1342 | 874 | 2686 | 3067 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 10 | W 9 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | S 16 | S 11 | S 11 | — | — |
373 | 265 | 276 | 127 | 98 | 114 | 346 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 24 | WSW 22 | WSW 13 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | N 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 16 | S 16 | — | — | — |
11 | 49 | 212 | 72 | 20 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | — | — | SW 6 | WSW 7 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | WSW 10 | WSW 12 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | — | — | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | — |
165 | — | — | 104 | 395 | 1018 | 1256 | 3186 | 7468 | 8767 | 8429 | 7999 | 8497 | 5580 | — | — | 387 | 482 | 1106 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 271 | 172 | 10 | 130 | 243 | 251 | 278 | 277 | 224 | 278 | 294 | 344 | 87 | 112 | 243 | 243 | 231 | 112 | 243 | 112 |
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.











