Stent Road
Stent Road is Taranaki's crown jewel—a world-class right-hand point break that ranks among New Zealand's finest waves. The setup delivers everything: a hollow drop-in, a barrel section, and then a long, workable wall that lets surfers really unload. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Mount Taranaki's perfect volcanic cone, this wave has an atmosphere matched by few places on Earth. The boulder bottom demands respect and the local crew has earned theirs, but surfers who demonstrate patience and lineup etiquette will find one of the Pacific's most complete point break experiences. The drive through rolling farmland and wild coastline is part of the journey.
Stent Road surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to NPL, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Pacific is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Pacific — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Stent Road trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SW (230°)
- Direction range
- 200° - 270°
- Size range
- 0.8m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 1.8m - 2.5m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (90°)
- Offshore range
- 60° - 130°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.4m - 1.5m
Water temp
16°C
Wetsuit
4/3mm fullsuit
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
6/10
👥 Spring Break (Sep 26 – Oct 12) — expect extra crowds
Access: 6hrs south of Auckland, 4hrs north of Wellington. ~90min from New Plymouth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Stent Road?
The Stent Road profile favors mid tide, ideally between 0.4m and 1.5m on the local tide chart. Compare this preference with the forecast tide and local conditions before choosing a session.
What wind direction is offshore at Stent Road?
The Stent Road profile uses wind from E (90°) as its preferred direction, with an offshore range of 60° to 130°. Wind speed matters too: light winds outside that range can still produce surfable conditions, while strong offshore winds can make takeoffs difficult.
What swell size and direction work best at Stent Road?
The Stent Road scoring profile favors swell from SW (200° to 270°), a swell-height range of 0.8m to 3m, and a reference period of 14s. These are model inputs, not guaranteed breaking-wave heights or a promise that the surf will suit every ability.
When is the best time of year to surf Stent Road?
The main season at Stent Road is Mar-Oct. A secondary window runs Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb. Year-round but autumn/winter best for W/SW swells.
How do I get to Stent Road?
The spot profile lists NPL as a nearby airport. The estimated road transfer is 90 minutes. 6hrs south of Auckland, 4hrs north of Wellington. ~90min from New Plymouth.
What kind of wave is Stent Road?
Stent Road is a point break, a right-hander. Difficulty is rated 7/10.
Best Season
Peak: Mar-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Year-round but autumn/winter best for W/SW swells.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Back Beach
🌋 Taranaki power • Black sand punch • City center surf
Fitzroy Beach
🛢️ Barrel potential • High tide magic • Taranaki staple
Raglan - Manu Bay
🇳🇿 One of Earth's longest lefts • Endless Summer legend • Kiwi soul
Manu Bay
🥝 Raglan's inside section • Endless lefts • Kiwi icon
Raglan
🥝 New Zealand's finest • Black sand point breaks • 300m rides
Plan a trip around Stent Road
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.