
Surf Forecasts:
Stent Road surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, WSW swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 11,643 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Stent Road in the next 16 days are 5.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) 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 1.2m 6s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 16ft (5.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got a 16-day window and it’s a tale of two halves. The first few days have some real potential, but then we’re looking at a long, gnarly stretch of weather that’ll test your patience. Hang tight.
Stent Road is the only game in town, and it kicks off on Monday, July 20th. We’ve got a solid 6ft swell rolling in from the WSW, with a nice long 14-second period pushing that energy in. The combined energy is a hefty 1347 (moderate wave energy), and early Monday morning, we’ve got a gentle 15 km/h offshore breeze from the east. This is an advanced reef and point break, so it’s not for the faint of heart, but for those with the skills, the waves will be clean and well-shaped. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
Monday afternoon drops a touch to 5ft, but the wind goes light and cross-off, keeping things clean. The standout, though, is Tuesday morning, July 21st. The swell drops to 5ft, but the wind is glassy—dead calm at 5 km/h from the SE. That’s a rare gift. The period is still a meaty 13 seconds, and the wave energy sits at 738. This is the pick of the first week. The point will be lined up and smooth. Crowds are going to be a problem here, though—it’s a spot that’s often packed.
Tuesday afternoon gets a bit sketchy with onshore wind, and by Wednesday, July 22nd, things go south. A freshening 30 km/h SW wind and a short, bumpy 7-second period from the SW ruin the surface. The combined energy drops to 620, and it’s just a mess. This pattern of poor conditions hangs on. Thursday, July 23rd morning gives us a brief reprieve with a 6ft, 13-second swell and a clean NE offshore (1110 energy), but it’s a short window.
Then we hit a wall. From Friday, July 24th all the way through Saturday, August 2nd, the surf is blown out or too stormy. We’re talking strong onshore winds, rain, and even a risk of thunderstorms. The swell gets huge, hitting 16ft to 20ft, but it’s accompanied by gale-force winds. The combined energy spikes into the thousands (8531, 11000, etc.), which tells you the ocean is angry. This is not surfable for a paddle board; it’s kite-surfing territory if anything. Beginners should stay well away, and even experts won’t find a clean face.
After that long, nasty gap, the forecast finally shows some hope. Tuesday, August 4th morning brings a clean, glassy morning with a 8ft swell from the WSW, 12-second period, and a light 5 km/h ESE wind. The combined energy is 1794. The conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. This is a long-range standout, so don’t book the trip yet, but it’s a promising light at the end of the tunnel. Keep an eye on this one.
So, to wrap it up: the best windows are the first two mornings (Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st), with the glassy Tuesday morning taking the top spot. Then buckle up for a week and a half of nonsense, but there’s a whisper of a glorious clean-up on August 4th. Stay stoked, and check the forecast again closer to the date.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue night, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, fresh winds from the SW by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Fri morning. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the SE on Wed night, strong winds from the WSW by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WNW 7 | W 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1873 | 1283 | 915 | 779 | 734 | 640 | 335 | 569 | 303 | 216 | 1110 | 1137 | 551 | 385 | 963 | 4356 | 8051 | 8933 | 11643 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 1:38AM3.01m | 2:05PM2.77m | 2:24AM2.79m | 2:54PM2.61m | 3:14AM2.59m | 3:50PM2.47m | 4:10AM2.43m | 4:53PM2.39m | 5:16AM2.33m | 6:01PM2.38m | 6:24AM2.33m | 7:04PM2.45m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:01AM0.37m | 8:18PM0.54m | 8:48AM0.55m | 9:09PM0.74m | 9:39AM0.72m | 10:06PM0.91m | 10:37AM0.85m | 11:10PM1.01m | 11:39AM0.91m | 00:17AM1.02m | 12:42PM0.89m | 1:18AM0.95m | |||||||
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:33 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:23 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:25 | — | — | 5:27 | — | — | 5:28 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 11 | 9 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 12 | WSW 7 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 20 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | — |
1873 | 1283 | 915 | 779 | 734 | 640 | 335 | 51 | 94 | 132 | 1110 | 1137 | 551 | 249 | 38 | 385 | 8051 | 8933 | — | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | SSE 5 | SSE 4 | WSW 19 | WSW 17 | NNW 10 | WSW 15 | SW 12 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
23 | 64 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 35 | 57 | 9 | 87 | 216 | — | — | 71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NE 4 | NNE 4 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | N 8 | WSW 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 6 | SSE 5 | SE 5 | — | — | SW 7 | SW 7 | SW 7 | — | — | WNW 4 | NNW 4 | WNW 7 | W 9 | WSW 16 | — | — | WSW 16 |
— | 100 | 51 | 22 | — | — | 178 | 569 | 303 | — | — | 19 | 9 | 385 | 963 | 4356 | — | — | 11643 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 112 | 87 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 273 | 87 | 276 | 232 | 271 | 251 | 112 | 217 |
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.










