Banks Peninsula - Stony Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, your local Banks Peninsula surf reporter. Let’s look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a bit of a wild ride ahead, so strap in.

The forecast starts on Monday, 3rd August, with a pulse of SSW swell. Monday morning at Stony Bay is looking clean with a light cross-off breeze from the west. Swell comes in at 4.9 ft from the SSW with a period of 12 seconds — that’s a solid groundswell for a beginner-friendly spot. Water temp is sitting at 49.6°F, which is about 1.4°F above the average for this time of year, so it’s a touch warmer than usual, but still chilly. The combined energy is moderate at 989. It’s a nice start, but the afternoon goes downhill fast with a big shift in wind — 25 km/h from the south and cross-off — and the swell jumps to 7.2 ft, making it marginal for the spot.

Tuesday, 4th August, is a weird one. The swell absolutely bombs overnight, hitting 14.8 ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, and the combined energy is massive at 5543 in the morning. The wind is offshore and strong at 30 km/h from the SSW. But this is too big for Stony Bay — only for experts, and even then, it’s a beast. The afternoon is similar, with 14.8 ft and 30 km/h wind. This is not a beginner’s day.

Wednesday, 5th August, the swell drops back to a more manageable 9.8 ft on the morning from the south with a long 11-second period, and a light offshore breeze from the WSW at 10 km/h. The combined energy is still strong at 2147. This is excellent for experienced surfers — clean, offshore, and a proper groundswell. The afternoon holds at 8.2 ft from the south with a 10 km/h offshore from the SW. Both sessions are clean and well-shaped, but it’s still a step up from the earlier days.

Thursday, 6th August, and we get a real treat. The morning is glassy — zero wind — with a 4.6 ft south swell and a 10-second period. The combined energy has dropped to 743, but the conditions are perfect. The afternoon is also glassy, with a 4.3 ft south swell and a 9-second period. This is the standout of the first week. Clean, glassy, and easy to paddle out. If you’re a beginner, this is your window.

Friday, 7th August, is a bit of a letdown. The swell is 5.2 ft from the south with a 13-second period in the morning, but the wind is cross-on from the NNE at 10 km/h, making it lumpy. The afternoon is cross-shore, not great. The combined energy is 1084, but the quality is marginal.

Saturday, 8th August, sees a small, clean south swell at 3.9 ft with a 10-second period and a light offshore from the SW in the morning. It’s a quiet session, but the afternoon is cross-on and not worth it.

Sunday, 9th August, is a write-off. The swell is tiny — 3.0 ft to 3.3 ft — from the SSE and south, with periods around 9 seconds. The wind is calm or light, but the energy is very weak at 174 to 200. It’s surfable but ordinary.

Monday, 10th August, the swell drops further to 1.6 ft and 2.0 ft, with periods up to 13 seconds for the SE swell, but the wind is onshore or glassy. The combined energy is as low as 100. Poor conditions.

The next few days, from Tuesday, 11th August, to Thursday, 13th August, are dominated by onshore winds from the north-northeast, with swell building from 2.3 ft to 8.2 ft from the east and southeast. The wind is strong — up to 30 km/h — and the combined energy hits 1470 on Thursday morning. This is messy, lumpy, and choppy. Not surfable in a good way. If you’re into kitesurfing, the setup might interest you, but for paddle surfing, it’s a hard pass.

Friday, 14th August, the wind shifts to a light cross-off from the SSE, and the swell is 5.6 ft from the east with a 9-second period. The combined energy is 503. Clean, but not exceptional. The afternoon is similar.

Saturday, 15th August, is a good one. The morning is clean with a 3.6 ft swell from the NE and a light offshore from the WSW at

Read more