Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right from the start, the next week and a half is a story of two halves. The surf is here, but it’s mostly too messy or too big for this spot. The standout days are the 24th and 28th, and they offer completely different vibes.

Saturday the 22nd starts us off with a small 3.3ft south groundswell, but a proper cross-off wind is keeping things clean. It's a gentle breeze, and the energy is weak (226). There’s a wave, but it’s small and not exactly lighting the place up. By the afternoon, the wind picks up to a fresh 30 km/h, the swell drops to 2.6ft, and the energy fades (129). Not worth getting wet.

Sunday the 23rd is a gap in the action. The swell has bottomed out to a negligible 1ft, and a near gale is howling out of the northwest on the morning. It’s a full write-off.

Monday the 24th is the first real standout. The swell jumps to 7.9ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, generating a strong energy (1933). However, the morning call is that it’s too big for this break. It’s clean, but that's a lot of water. The afternoon is the real pick: swell drops to a still-chunky 6.6ft, the period holds at 12 seconds, and it’s only a light breeze. The energy is still strong (1131). This is the best of the week for the experienced crew. The swell direction matches what Hickory Bay wants, and the light cross-off wind will keep it smooth. This is your window.

Tuesday the 25th is a step down. The swell eases to 3.9ft from the SSW with a long 15-second period. The energy drops to moderate (667). It’s clean, but the thought is that tide might make it marginal. It’s surfable, but not a patch on yesterday.

Wednesday the 26th is another blower. Swell is way up at 11.5ft with a 14-second period, and the energy is pumping (7785). Again, the forecast says it’s just too big for this wave. 11.5ft is serious water, and even as it eases to 7.9ft in the afternoon, it’s still pushing it for this bank. Not one for the faint-hearted.

Thursday the 27th sees the swell back to a more manageable 5.6ft in the morning, dropping to 4.9ft by the afternoon. The energy is moderate (1028). The wind is cross-off, but the comment is “marginal” or “questionable tide.” It’s a go-out-and-see kind of day, not a standout.

Friday the 28th is the second standout, and it’s a different flavor. The swell is 4.6ft from the south, but the morning has a perfect offshore wind (NNW) at just 10 km/h and a light breeze. The energy is moderate (547), but the quality is there – “expect very good surf conditions.” This is your clean, moderate-size day for the general crew. It’s a much more user-friendly option than Monday.

Saturday the 29th marks the end of the decent run. Swell drops to 1.6ft, and the energy is weak (48). The morning is surfable but ordinary. The afternoon is flat and cross-on.

Sunday the 30th is a flat spell. The swell is a tiny 1ft, and while it’s clean and offshore in the morning, there’s just nothing to ride. The 19-second period in the afternoon is fascinating, but with 1ft of wave, it’s a no-go.

Monday the 31st is back to massive. The morning call is 11.5ft from the SSW, with a strong energy (2712). Too big again. The afternoon eases to 8.2ft, and it’s a clean offshore, but still right at the top of the range for this spot. Experts only.

Tuesday the 1st of September is a nice reset. The swell settles to 4.3ft from the south, and the morning is glassy – total calm. The energy is moderate (473). It’s a clean, head-high day with no wind. That’s a beautiful thing.

Wednesday the 2nd gets stupid big again. 16.4ft in the morning with a 12-second period is an absolute bomb, energy off the charts (6167). This is not surfable for anyone but a lunatic. The afternoon eases to 14.8ft, but still blown out.

Thursday the 3rd is a mess. Strong cross-onshore winds of 40 km/h and a dropping 7.2ft SSW swell. The conditions are poor, and the energy is high (1607) but useless. This is a no-go.

Friday the 4th is a mellow evening. The swell is back down to

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