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.

November at Stoney Beach offers decent surfing conditions with an average swell height of 1.8m and a solid period of 9.8s, providing well-formed waves. The swell is most consistent from the NE to SSE directions, with the largest contributions coming from the NE (peaking at 2.83% in the 1.5-2m range) and SSW (dominating in bigger swells, with 10.60% in 1.5-2m and 8.30% in 2-2.5m). The most favorable swell direction is from the SSW, which also delivers higher waves (over 2.5m at 0.63%). Wind conditions are less ideal, with only 18% of the time offering clean onshore or light offshore winds. The winds predominantly blow from the NNE to SSW, often in the 10-30kph range, creating choppy or cross-shore conditions. Stronger winds (20-30kph) are common from NNE and SSW directions, which may lead to blown-out surf. Surfers should watch for SSW swells paired with lighter winds for the best sessions, as this combo provides the most powerful and rideable waves. Overall, November presents a mix of good swell energy but requires patience for cleaner wind windows.