Stoney Beach - surf spot statistics

Stoney Beach in New Zealand offers surfable conditions year-round, but the best months for quality waves generally fall between April and August. During these months, the swell consistency improves, with ground swell percentages peaking at 57-60%, offering cleaner and more organized waves compared to the wind swell-dominated summer months. The mean swell size also increases to around 2.0-2.2m, providing more powerful rides. However, wind conditions remain challenging, with only 17-22% of days seeing favorable offshore or light winds, while onshore or strong winds prevail most of the time. The winter months (June-July) see slightly better wind stats, but surfers should still expect a majority of less-than-ideal wind days. From September onwards, ground swell decreases, and wind swell becomes more dominant again, leading to less consistent conditions. January and December have the highest wind swell influence (66-68%), smaller waves (1.7m), and the worst wind stats, making them the least reliable for good surf. For consistent swell size and better ground swell contribution, target late autumn to early spring, but be prepared for variable winds. Ideal sessions here are rare, so flexibility and local knowledge are key.

April at Stoney Beach offers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 2.0m and a decent period of 10.8s, indicating consistent, well-organized waves. The dominant swell direction is from the southern quadrant, particularly SSW, which contributes the largest share of rideable waves (1.5–2.5m+ range). This direction produces powerful, clean waves, especially in the 1.5–2.5m range, making it ideal for intermediate to advanced surfers. However, wind conditions are a limiting factor—only 20% of the time is the wind ideal (likely light offshore or sideshore from the northeast). Winds are often from the north or southwest, which can create onshore chop, particularly at higher speeds (20–50kph). For the best sessions, watch for SSW swells paired with lighter ENE or NE winds. Overall, April delivers decent surf, but wind quality is hit-or-miss—patience and timing are key.