Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, S swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 7,122 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 14s 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 17) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. 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 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 1.4m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for Banks Peninsula.
We’re going to have to be patient. The first few days are a complete mess with howling onshore winds and blown-out surf, so keep the board in the car until at least Monday.
The day to have circled is Friday, August 21st. That’s the real deal. We’ve got a solid 6ft S swell rolling in with a long 16-second period – that’s proper groundswell, packing a punch (1616). The wind is light offshore from the N, so you’re looking at clean, groomed lines at Hickory Bay. The afternoon eases a bit to 5ft, but still with offshore breezes, giving you a full day of it. It’s a big call, but this is the best of the lot. Just a heads up, crowds are possible, so get in early.
After that, Saturday the 22nd still has some rideable 4ft leftovers with offshore wind, but it’s fading. The following week is mostly small and messy. We get a big bump of swell around the 26th and 27th, with waves pushing 10ft to 12ft, and even glassy conditions on the 27th morning. But that’s some serious, powerful juice (2475+). Anything over 8ft is expert-only, so unless you’ve got the skills and the nerve, that’s a day to watch from the beach.
The gap between the Friday standouts and the next big swell is a few days of tiny, weak surf. The 25th has a knee-high 2ft SSW swell with a long period, but it’s clean. Hardly worth the wetsuit.
So, bottom line: Friday the 21st is your winner for solid, clean waves. The following Thursday the 27th is a big-wave day for experts only. The rest is a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 10°C on Tue morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Tue afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 10°C on Wed morning, min 7°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 427 | 342 | 711 | 1135 | 651 | 514 | 231 | 1814 | 4178 | 4712 | 6155 | 3596 | 988 | 741 | 676 | 501 | 1589 | 899 | 384 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-off | off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:17AM1.90m | 6:43PM1.91m | 7:10AM1.84m | 7:35PM1.81m | 8:06AM1.77m | 8:30PM1.71m | 9:03AM1.71m | 9:26PM1.64m | 10:00AM1.68m | 10:23PM1.59m | 10:56AM1.66m | 11:17PM1.57m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:11AM0.09m | 12:34PM0.11m | 1:03AM0.15m | 1:27PM0.21m | 1:54AM0.23m | 2:22PM0.31m | 2:46AM0.31m | 3:16PM0.40m | 3:38AM0.38m | 4:11PM0.46m | 4:30AM0.42m | 5:04PM0.49m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — |
mm | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
Feels °C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 17 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 16 | S 14 | S 12 |
| kJ | 126 | 339 | 711 | 173 | 651 | 514 | 171 | 96 | 53 | 18 | 4297 | 2644 | 988 | 741 | 676 | 501 | 1589 | 899 | 384 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | NE 9 | ENE 10 | ENE 9 | SE 7 | ENE 10 | SSW 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 12 | E 11 | — | SE 12 | SE 11 | S 16 | S 16 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | E 10 |
| kJ | 427 | 125 | 117 | 98 | 86 | 157 | 231 | 27 | 16 | 23 | 9 | — | 34 | 20 | 47 | 249 | 27 | 12 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | S 20 | ESE 12 | SE 15 | ENE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | — | — | SE 11 |
| kJ | 17 | 68 | 15 | 9 | 113 | 99 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 7 | 11 | 14 | — | — | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSW 16 | — | — | SSW 5 | SSW 9 | SSW 10 | S 12 | S 14 | S 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 3 |
| kJ | 273 | 342 | 316 | 1135 | — | — | 52 | 1814 | 4178 | 4712 | 6155 | 3596 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 163 | 16 | 216 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 241 | 35 | 36 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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