Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, S swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 19s period, S swell with 3,650 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay in the next 16 days are 2.3m 19s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 5s period and expected on Monday (Jul 13) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sat 18th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here, let’s run it down for Hickory Bay in feet.
Water temp’s about average for this time of year on Banks Peninsula. Nothing weird.
First few days are slow. Sunday the 12th of July kicks off with a light offshore and 3ft from the SSW, but the energy’s only 348 – weak. Monday the 13th morning cleans up with a gentle offshore, 2ft from the SSW (period 13 seconds), energy 211. It’s a longboard morning. Thursday the 16th afternoon has a better pulse from the ESE around 2ft, period 15 seconds, energy 281. Clean, but you’re still hunting.
Friday the 17th of July is the one to circle. Morning has a light offshore, 4ft from the ESE, 16-second period. Energy jumps to 887 – that’s proper groundswell. Afternoon goes glassy, still 4ft from the ESE, same long period, energy 913. That’s clean, lined-up, and beginner-friendly. Go.
Saturday the 18th of July is junk. Strong cross-onshore over 30 mph, swell up to 8ft. Just a mess.
Sunday the 19th of July is for the experienced crew. Gentle offshore, 7ft of S swell, 13-second period, energy 1716 – that’s a good push. Afternoon cleans up, dropping to 6ft but still plenty of power. At this size, Hickory Bay won’t be easy, but if you’re on it, the waves are there. Best of the first week.
Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st drop back to around 4ft to 2ft with light offshores. Fun, but not a standout.
Then from Wednesday the 22nd of July, it goes huge. Swell hits 10ft on Wednesday morning, then 18ft by the afternoon. By Thursday the 23rd, it’s over 18ft with energy over 10,000. That’s strong to very strong. Direction shifts to ENE, period 13-14 seconds. Even with glassy winds, it’s too big. That’s kite-surf territory, not paddle-surfing.
This massive swell holds through to Monday the 27th, with 10ft and offshore winds. For the average surfer, it’s a skip. For the big-wave crew, there’s a window.
The standout? Friday the 17th July afternoon – glassy, 4ft groundswell from the ESE, 16-second period, energy 913. That’s the session you won’t forget.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 6°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Sat night, fresh winds from the NNW by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue night, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Sat 18 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | S 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 17 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | S 18 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 437 | 191 | 136 | 101 | 170 | 119 | 47 | 15 | 25 | 26 | 73 | 92 | 94 | 54 | 174 | 390 | 697 | 796 | 805 | 3002 | 3025 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 1:09AM1.81m | 1:44PM2.02m | 2:06AM1.88m | 2:41PM2.10m | 3:02AM1.94m | 3:36PM2.16m | 3:57AM1.98m | 4:31PM2.17m | 4:52AM1.99m | 5:25PM2.15m | 5:48AM1.97m | 6:19PM2.08m | 6:43AM1.93m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:19AM0.11m | 7:59PM0.18m | 8:17AM0.04m | 8:57PM0.12m | 9:14AM-0.02m | 9:54PM0.07m | 10:12AM-0.06m | 10:51PM0.04m | 11:08AM-0.06m | 11:46PM0.04m | 12:05PM-0.03m | 00:40AM0.06m | 1:00PM0.04m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | |  |  |  | |
 | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:56 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:54 | — |
 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Temp °C | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | -2 | -3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | S 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | E 10 | SSW 16 | NNE 6 | NE 6 | NE 7 | ESE 13 | ESE 15 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 16 | ESE 15 | S 18 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 437 | 191 | 136 | 64 | 170 | 119 | 47 | 15 | 8 | 26 | 77 | 29 | 33 | 54 | 174 | 390 | 697 | 796 | 805 | 3002 | 603 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | E 9 | E 8 | E 9 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 9 | S 18 | E 11 | E 12 | SSW 17 | SE 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 |
| kJ | 143 | 81 | 57 | 36 | 41 | 26 | 14 | 8 | 25 | 9 | 47 | 92 | 6 | 46 | 29 | 46 | 175 | 105 | 402 | 742 | 553 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | — | — | S 22 | S 20 | S 8 | E 13 | SSW 19 | ESE 12 | SSW 17 | NE 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | NE 5 | NE 5 | S 22 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 76 | 72 | 101 | — | — | 9 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 73 | 47 | 94 | 10 | 78 | 69 | 15 | 12 | 635 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NE 3 | NE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | N 6 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | — | SSW 2 | — | — | NE 3 | NE 4 | — | — | S 4 | S 7 | S 16 |
| kJ | — | — | 2 | 53 | 80 | 91 | 166 | 197 | 139 | 186 | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 19 | — | — | 17 | 266 | 3025 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 236 | 81 | 5 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 16 | 216 |
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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