Surf Forecasts:
Stent Road surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, WSW swell with 6,868 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Stent Road in the next 16 days are 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Stent Road over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s take a look at what’s ahead for Stent Road, the reef and point setup that’s been picking up a proper SW groundswell. The water temp is sitting right around 57°, which is pretty much what you’d expect for this time of year—nothing weird going on there.
The first real chance to get wet is on Wednesday afternoon the 19th. We’ve got a clean 5 ft swell from the WSW with a long 16-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 1901—moderate to strong. It’s a cross-off wind from the SSE at 16 mph, so the surface will be tidy. The forecast says it’s marginal, but for an advanced spot like this, that’s a session worth checking. Just know it’s for experienced surfers only.
Now, Thursday morning the 20th is the standout. The wind drops to almost nothing—NNE at 3 mph, glassy as it gets. The swell is 6 ft from the WSW, period 14 seconds, and the energy is 1491. This is the kind of morning where Stent Road really shines. The offshore wind direction is perfect for this spot, and the waves will be clean and lined up. It’s an advanced wave, but for those who can handle it, this is the best session in the forecast.
Thursday afternoon gets messy—onshore wind from the W at 12 mph spoils it. Friday and Saturday are pretty poor, with onshore and cross-on winds, smaller swell, and low energy. Saturday morning the 22nd has only 3 ft and 409 energy—not worth paddling out.
Sunday the 23rd sees a jump in size: 8 ft in the morning, but with a short 10-second period and onshore wind. That’s more of a washing machine. By Monday the 24th, we’re looking at 10 ft from the WSW with a 16-second period, and the energy is huge at 4359. That’s a serious swell—experts only, and even then, the onshore wind from the west at 9 mph will make it lumpy. The afternoon is similar with 10 ft and 15-second period, energy 3703, but still onshore wind. It’s powerful but not clean.
Tuesday the 25th through the rest of the week sees the swell slowly dropping, but the wind stays mostly cross-on or onshore. The energy is still decent, but the surface quality is never great. A few sessions in the 7 ft to 8 ft range, but the wind is just not cooperating.
By the 30th of August, we get a bit more interesting: 3 ft to 4 ft from the WSW with a very long 18-second period Sunday morning, and cross-off wind from the SE at 16 mph. The energy is 1011, moderate, but the period is so long that the waves will be super clean and well-shaped—perfect for the point. Sunday afternoon is similar with 4 ft, 17 seconds, and 1243 energy. It’s a good run for a relaxed session.
After that, the first few days of September look like they’ll hold some size—8 ft on the 1st and 8 ft on the 2nd—but the wind is cross-off from the SSE, which is okay, and the period drops to 10-11 seconds, so it’s more of a punchy, short-period swell. The energy is still strong, but the quality is only marginal.
Overall, Thursday morning the 20th is your gold. Glassy, clean, solid swell, and the right direction. The long-period groundswell around the 30th is also a great call for a clean, mellow session. Everything else is either too windy or too big and messy.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 12°C on Sun afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sat night, light winds from the WNW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 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 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
1953 | 1484 | 1247 | 863 | 768 | 874 | 413 | 312 | 222 | 598 | 1957 | 1361 | 1761 | 6868 | 5885 | 4363 | 3243 | 2602 | 1610 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | glassy | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 2:23AM2.54m | 2:56PM2.45m | 3:18AM2.34m | 4:01PM2.31m | 4:30AM2.22m | 5:22PM2.27m | 5:53AM2.22m | 6:38PM2.36m | 7:03AM2.33m | 7:35PM2.51m | 7:55AM2.49m | 8:20PM2.70m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:47AM0.79m | 9:16PM0.98m | 9:45AM0.96m | 10:25PM1.11m | 10:57AM1.05m | 11:44PM1.12m | 12:12PM1.01m | 00:53AM1.02m | 1:14PM0.88m | 1:47AM0.85m | 2:03PM0.70m | 2:31AM0.66m | |||||||
— | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Feels °C | 6 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | SW 6 | SW 6 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 |
1953 | 1484 | 1247 | 863 | 768 | 874 | 123 | 80 | 222 | 560 | 280 | 174 | 582 | 6868 | 5885 | 4363 | 3243 | 2602 | 1610 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | SW 6 | W 19 | — | WSW 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 413 | 312 | 33 | 184 | — | 251 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | S 17 | S 16 | — | — | WSW 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | — | — | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 5 | — | — | — | — | W 5 | WSW 6 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | W 9 | WSW 9 | — | NW 8 | — | — | W 7 | NW 6 |
14 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 165 | 12 | 155 | 598 | 1957 | 1361 | 1761 | — | 75 | — | — | 196 | 146 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 112 | 46 | 105 | 243 | 112 | 112 | 277 | 112 | 232 | 277 | 46 | 46 | 243 | 112 | 112 | 276 | 223 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Taranaki | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











