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.

In January, Stoney Beach offers surfers a mixed but generally favorable set of conditions. The average swell height is 1.7m with a decent period of 9.4s, indicating clean and well-formed waves. The swell distribution shows that the most consistent and sizable swells come from the NE, ENE, and SSW directions, with the highest frequency of waves in the 1.5-2m range (peaking at 8.14% for SSW). This suggests a variety of swell angles, though ENE and SSW provide the most surfable energy. Wind conditions are crucial here, with only 17% of the time being ideal (light offshore or cross-offshore). The dominant winds come from the NNE, NE, and SSW, often blowing at 10-30kph, which can lead to choppy or onshore conditions. Surfers should target early mornings or watch for rare offshore wind windows—particularly from the west or northwest—for cleaner waves. Overall, January delivers rideable waves regularly, but wind interference means patience and timing are key to scoring the best sessions.