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 July, Stoney Beach offers decent surf conditions with an average swell height of 2.1m and a solid period of 10.8s, producing well-spaced, powerful waves. The dominant swell directions are from the SSW and S, contributing to the majority of the rideable waves, particularly in the 1.5–2.5m range, which provides consistent overhead sets. SW swells also bring some clean, larger waves, though less frequently. Wind conditions are a mixed bag—only 22% of the time are they ideal (typically light offshore from the N to ENE), while stronger onshore winds from the W to SSW can disrupt wave quality, especially at higher speeds (20-50kph). Surfers should watch for days with lighter NNE to ENE winds for cleaner faces, while SSW swells paired with favorable winds will deliver the best sessions. Overall, expect powerful winter waves but variable wind interference.