
Surf Forecasts:
Stent Road surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 13s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 1 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 14s period, W swell with 10,280 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 28 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 11s 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 (Jul 28) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore 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 Saturday (Aug 01) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 01) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sat 1st Aug) | 16ft (5.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the forecast for Stent Road. Let’s break it down.
First thing to know: Stent Road is a reef and point setup, so it’s got that structure to handle swell. The water temp is sitting at 58°F right now, which feels about normal for this time of year. The swell direction they’re asking for is SW, and that’s exactly what we’re getting for the most part.
We’ve got a bit of a slow start, but things kick off Tuesday morning, the 28th of July. That morning session is the standout early on. We’re looking at 5ft of clean WSW swell with a 12-second period, combined energy of 648 (moderate), and light ESE offshore wind at 3 mph. That’s gonna be glassy, lined up, and proper. This is the best on offer in the early part of the forecast. The water’s a bit chilly, but that’s the price for clean waves. Crowds are often an issue here, so expect some company.
From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday, the wind shifts and gets a bit frustrating. Tuesday afternoon goes cross-shore with a light SSW breeze, and the swell drops to 5ft. Wednesday sees a stronger NNE wind, 12 mph, but it’s cross-offshore, so it’s not terrible. Swell hangs around 4ft, but the energy is moderate (392 to 597).
Thursday the 30th gets messy. Rain showers, NW wind swinging cross-on at 12 mph, and the swell jumps to 6ft with a long 14-second period. The energy spikes to 1095 (strong), but that onshore wind chops it up. By Thursday afternoon, the wind is cross at 19 mph, and it’s lumpy. Not worth paddling out.
Friday the 31st is a write-off for surfing. Strong onshore W wind at 22 mph, swell building to 10ft to 13ft, period dropping to 9-10 seconds. The energy is huge (2217 to 2872), but it’s a messy, blown-out beast. Honestly, with that wind and size, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Now, Saturday the 1st of August is another big standout. The wind swings SE at 16 mph, cross-offshore, and we’ve got a solid 13ft WSW swell with a 14-second period in the morning. The combined energy is a massive 6925 (very strong). This is a serious, powerful groundswell – long period, so it’s going to bend around the point and reef really well. But at 13ft, this is only for experts. The wind is clean, so the shape should be there, but if you’re not comfortable in big, heavy water, stay on the beach. The afternoon drops to 12ft, still huge.
Sunday the 2nd takes a step back. Swell drops to 6ft, but the wind goes cross-onshore from the SSW, making it choppy. Not great.
Monday the 3rd of August morning is a real gem for the experienced crew. The wind goes dead calm – glassy, 0 mph. Swell is 5ft from the WSW, but the period is a very long 19 seconds. That’s groundswell with serious energy (1721), and on a reef-point setup, it’s going to be well-shaped, powerful, with long lulls between sets. If you’ve got the paddle fitness, this is a special session. The afternoon turns onshore and messy.
Into the second week, things are more tentative but still promising. Tuesday the 4th morning has clean 6ft swell with a 16-second period, light SE wind. Wednesday the 5th morning sees 8ft, 13-second swell, clean light SE wind. That’s a solid, powerful day for experienced surfers. Thursday the 6th morning is glassy again with 7ft, 12-second swell. After that, the wind picks up and the swell drops off through the 7th, 8th, and 9th, with periods of clean but smaller surf (3ft to 4ft) and strong winds.
The very end of the window, Wednesday the 12th of August, shows a bit of a pulse: 7ft, 15-second swell in the morning with light S wind, combined energy of 1631 (strong). That’s worth keeping an eye on, but it’s a long way out.
So, bottom line: If you’re an expert, Saturday the 1st of August is the big one – huge, clean, powerful. For the more moderate crew, Tuesday the 28th of July morning is your best bet, or Monday the 3rd of August morning if you can handle the long period and lulls. There are gaps of a couple of days here and there where the wind or size gets ugly, but overall, there’s plenty to work with.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu night, min 8°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Fri morning. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the W on Fri morning, calm by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 22 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
648 | 460 | 394 | 328 | 322 | 1144 | 1033 | 768 | 1169 | 1288 | 2872 | 10280 | 6925 | 3971 | 1649 | 647 | 446 | 526 | 1402 | 1895 | 1638 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on |
High Tide | 9:24PM2.84m | 9:39AM2.77m | 10:00PM2.96m | 10:15AM2.86m | 10:35PM3.05m | 10:50AM2.92m | 11:09PM3.10m | 11:25AM2.95m | 11:43PM3.12m | 12:01PM2.95m | 00:17AM3.09m | 12:38PM2.91m | 00:54AM3.02m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:08PM0.54m | 3:34AM0.56m | 3:46PM0.42m | 4:11AM0.43m | 4:22PM0.33m | 4:47AM0.34m | 4:57PM0.27m | 5:22AM0.27m | 5:33PM0.25m | 5:57AM0.25m | 6:09PM0.28m | 6:34AM0.27m | 6:47PM0.36m | ||||||||
7:31 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — | — | 5:34 | — | — | 5:35 | — | — | 5:36 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 |
Temp °C | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WNW 8 | WSW 14 | — | W 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 19 | WSW 18 | WSW 17 |
648 | 460 | 394 | 328 | 322 | 1144 | 1033 | 768 | 1169 | 603 | — | 10280 | 6925 | 3971 | 1649 | 647 | 446 | 172 | 1402 | 1895 | 1638 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 16 | SW 17 | SW 16 | WSW 15 | — | WSW 18 | — | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | S 7 | SSE 5 | SW 12 | WSW 22 | SW 11 | S 10 | SSE 10 |
— | 26 | 11 | 64 | 275 | — | 62 | — | 421 | 326 | — | — | — | — | 127 | 6 | 74 | 526 | 126 | 8 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 21 | S 10 | WSW 19 | SW 11 | SSE 10 | — | — |
— | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 391 | — | — | — | — | — | 44 | 19 | 70 | 128 | 21 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | N 3 | N 4 | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 5 | — | WNW 9 | W 10 | — | SE 6 | SSE 9 | — | — | SSE 4 | — | WSW 8 | WSW 7 | SW 8 |
— | — | — | 5 | 22 | 21 | 55 | 103 | — | 1288 | 2872 | — | 229 | 1361 | — | — | 29 | — | 172 | 440 | 657 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 108 | 112 | 112 | 112 | 232 | 231 | 271 | 223 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 243 | 269 |
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.










