Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 16 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 23s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 23s period, S swell with 6,921 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay this week:
The surf forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 16s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay in the next 16 days are 2.5m 23s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 24) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Fri 17th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 23s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 23s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cooking at Hickory Bay (Banks Peninsula). We’ve got a proper run of swell heading our way, but it’s not all smooth sailing.
The pattern starts with a solid pulse of groundswell. Friday morning the 17th sees a 5ft SSW swell rolling in with a very long 15-second period. The water is sitting at 51°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice little bonus. That swell energy is strong, and with a light WNW cross-off breeze, it’s actually clean. This is definitely for the experienced crew though, as it’s pushing into the bigger range.
But the real standout? Saturday the 18th morning. We’re talking an 8ft S swell with a staggering 23-second period. The energy is massive, and it’s glassy. That’s the kind of morning that gets the heart pumping. However, it’s too big for beginners, and for the experts, that super-long period is going to make it break straight and fast. It’ll be a challenge, but for those who know the take-off zone, it’s gonna be a wild ride. Expect crowds to be possible.
Sunday the 19th morning dials it back a notch – 6ft SSW swell, still a solid 16-second period, and glassy again. That’s a much more manageable size for experienced surfers, and the energy is strong. Monday the 20th offers more overhead, clean surf with 8ft S swell and glassy conditions both morning and afternoon, but again, it’s expert territory.
The run of good surf holds through Tuesday the 21st with a 7ft S swell and offshore winds, then it drops off quickly. From Wednesday the 22nd onward, the swell fades fast, dropping below 3ft with weak energy. There’s a long gap of poor conditions from the 24th through to the 28th, with strong onshore winds and messy, blown-out waves. The 26th and 27th have near gale-force cross-onshore winds – that’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.
There’s a little glimmer of hope on Wednesday the 29th with a 3ft SSW groundswell, a long 17-second period, and clean offshore winds. Not a standout, but a nice little session if you’re desperate. The rest of the window into early August is mostly small and average.
So, the best on offer is hands-down Saturday the 18th morning – massive, glassy, and powerful. Sunday the 19th morning is a close second for a slightly more manageable challenge. Get on it while it’s good.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 13°C on Sat afternoon, min 7°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 11°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | S 23 | S 19 | S 17 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1103 | 1029 | 1037 | 6921 | 3577 | 2413 | 1822 | 1757 | 1640 | 4347 | 4208 | 3262 | 1505 | 927 | 449 | 150 | 153 | 210 | 113 | 74 | 86 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | glassy | off | off | off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off |
High Tide | 6:19PM2.08m | 6:43AM1.93m | 7:13PM2.00m | 7:40AM1.86m | 8:08PM1.89m | 8:38AM1.80m | 9:04PM1.80m | 9:37AM1.74m | 10:00PM1.71m | 10:35AM1.70m | 10:55PM1.65m | 11:30AM1.69m | 11:49PM1.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:05PM-0.03m | 00:40AM0.06m | 1:00PM0.04m | 1:35AM0.10m | 1:56PM0.13m | 2:28AM0.16m | 2:52PM0.23m | 3:21AM0.23m | 3:47PM0.32m | 4:13AM0.30m | 4:42PM0.40m | 5:04AM0.36m | 5:35PM0.45m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  |  | | |  |  | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — |
 | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | ESE 15 | S 23 | S 19 | S 17 | SSW 16 | S 15 | S 14 | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | SSE 10 | S 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | S 9 | S 8 |
| kJ | 1103 | 862 | 1037 | 6921 | 3577 | 2413 | 1822 | 1757 | 1640 | 4347 | 4208 | 3262 | 1505 | 927 | 449 | 100 | 128 | 210 | 113 | 74 | 86 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 17 | ESE 16 | SSW 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 12 | NE 5 |
| kJ | 935 | 1029 | 742 | 834 | 682 | 522 | 326 | 265 | 190 | 127 | 94 | 77 | 49 | 6 | 4 | 150 | 153 | 39 | 35 | 14 | 18 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 14 | S 20 | ESE 14 | S 23 | S 21 | — | — | — | ESE 12 | — | — | — | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SSE 13 | ESE 12 | SSE 11 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | — | 585 | 31 | 811 | 1517 | 1046 | — | — | — | 127 | — | — | — | 49 | 23 | 34 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 | — | N 4 | SW 3 | SSW 6 | — | — | NNE 3 | N 4 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | 8 | 1 | 58 | — | — | 4 | 10 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 81 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
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