Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SSW swell with 2,884 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 14s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.2m 9s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the Banks Peninsula, specifically Hickory Bay. We’ve got a real mixed bag of a forecast coming up, so let’s get straight into it.
The first few days are a write-off, honestly. Sunday and Monday morning are a no-go – Sunday has a 3ft swell but it’s coming from the NE with a 31 mph cross-off wind, so it’s just messy. Combined wave energy is 205, so weak and not worth a paddle. There’s a gap until things start to look up on Monday afternoon.
Monday, 24 August is where it starts to get interesting. Monday morning is a big one – 8ft from the SSW with a 13-second period, but that’s too big for Hickory Bay. The afternoon though, that’s the standout of this whole stretch. Swell drops to 6ft, still from the SSW, with a 12-second period, and the wind goes offshore at 6 mph. Combined energy is 1112 – that’s moderate to strong, and the conditions are clean. This is the best on offer for the whole forecast, no question. For experienced surfers, this is the time to be out.
Tuesday (25th) and Wednesday (26th) have surf, but it’s not as good. Tuesday sees 4-4ft SSW swell with a very long 15-second period, but the cross-off wind and moderate energy (569-772) keep it marginal. Wednesday picks up a bit – 4-5ft SSW swell, 14-second period, with offshore winds in the afternoon. Combined energy hits 857, and the wind is light, making for some clean waves. Good, but not the standout.
Thursday (27th) gets bigger – 6-6ft from the S with a 16-17 second period, but the cross wind and rain make it messy. Combined energy is 1701-1764, but the quality isn’t there. Friday (28th) morning is glassy – 5ft S swell, 12-second period, with no wind at all. Combined energy is 690, so it’s clean and fun, but the swell is just okay. After Friday, it drops off. Saturday (29th) has a weak 4ft S swell with a short 6-second period – 254 energy, not worth it. Sunday (30th) and Monday (31st) are poor.
Then we get another pulse. Monday, 31 August afternoon – 8ft from the SSW with a 12-second period, offshore wind at 3 mph, and combined energy of 2468. That’s strong, but the wave comment says it’s too big for this break. For experts only. Tuesday, 1 September morning is even bigger – 8ft from the S with a 16-second period, 3632 energy, but again, too big for Hickory Bay. After that, it’s a mess of strong winds and lumpy conditions until we hit the end of the forecast.
Thursday, 3 September morning is another possible window – 5ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, light offshore wind, and combined energy of 2267. That’s a solid, powerful groundswell, and the conditions are clean. This could be good for experienced surfers, but it’s two weeks away, so don’t lock it in just yet.
Overall, if you’re looking for the best waves, it’s Monday, 24 August afternoon – that 6ft SSW swell with offshore wind is your winner. The Thursday 3 September morning window is promising, but it’s two weeks out and could change. The rest is either too big, too windy, or too weak.
Stay safe, and keep an eye on the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Sun morning, light winds from the NW by Mon morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Wed afternoon, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Wed afternoon, calm by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | NE 9 | ESE 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 48 | 155 | 36 | 1923 | 1766 | 1035 | 407 | 754 | 551 | 588 | 534 | 838 | 1121 | 1669 | 1751 | 999 | 681 | 547 | 282 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | glassy | on | off |
High Tide | 00:08AM1.57m | 12:36PM1.69m | 00:54AM1.59m | 1:21PM1.72m | 1:36AM1.62m | 2:02PM1.76m | 2:17AM1.65m | 2:42PM1.79m | 2:56AM1.68m | 3:21PM1.81m | 3:35AM1.70m | 3:59PM1.82m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:08AM0.44m | 6:42PM0.49m | 6:53AM0.41m | 7:26PM0.45m | 7:36AM0.37m | 8:08PM0.41m | 8:18AM0.33m | 8:50PM0.37m | 9:00AM0.28m | 9:30PM0.33m | 9:42AM0.25m | 10:11PM0.30m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | |
 | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 8 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | ESE 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | S 17 | S 16 | S 14 | NE 9 | S 12 | S 11 |
| kJ | 48 | 155 | 161 | 36 | 1766 | 1035 | 407 | 754 | 551 | 588 | 534 | 838 | 1121 | 1669 | 1751 | 999 | 493 | 547 | 282 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | S 9 | ESE 14 | NNE 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | S 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | N 5 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | S 12 | NE 7 | NE 6 |
| kJ | 18 | 15 | 36 | 9 | 35 | 39 | 229 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 681 | 119 | 39 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | ESE 13 | SSW 17 | NE 7 | NE 8 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | — | — | ESE 14 | NE 11 | E 11 | — | ESE 13 | — | E 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 5 | 35 | 29 | 2 | 10 | 38 | 40 | — | — | 18 | 5 | 2 | — | 16 | — | 5 | 9 | 8 | 19 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 5 | NNW 6 | WSW 7 | SSW 11 | N 4 | N 4 | N 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | — | ENE 3 | NE 4 | N 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NW 4 | — | WSW 3 |
| kJ | 149 | 207 | 168 | 1923 | 7 | 12 | 104 | 143 | 73 | — | 3 | 20 | 80 | 112 | 193 | 320 | 14 | — | 8 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 145 | 175 | 193 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 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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