Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your wetsuit, the water’s a touch warmer than usual for this time of year at Hickory Bay (Banks Peninsula). We’re looking at a solid stretch ahead, but it’s got a bit of a wild personality to it.

The opening act is a blast of size. Wednesday the 5th is on the cards, but it’s not for the faint of heart. We’re looking at a solid 10ft of south swell during the morning, with the energy crackling at 2417. It’s too big for this spot, plain and simple. The wind is a cross-on 9 mph, so it’ll be a bit lumpy. The afternoon drops to 8ft, but it’s still a lot. This is a day to watch from the rocks, not paddle out with a beginner.

The real standout, the one you want to circle, is Friday the 7th. After things settle down on Thursday—glassy afternoon, clean lines at 5ft—Friday morning brings the magic. We’ve got a 5ft south swell, a 13-second period, and a cross-off breeze at 9 mph. That’s clean, powerful surf. The energy is strong at 1093. This is the pick of the first week. It’s a morning session, but the afternoon stays clean with offshore wind and 5ft, so it’s a solid day all around.

We then hit a bit of a lull. The weekend has some waves, but nothing that’ll have you sprinting down the track. Sunday morning has a peaky 6ft from the NE with a short period, but it’s a bit junky. The start of the following week—Monday the 10th—is a straight-up write-off with strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions. Not worth the drive.

Things pick up again in the second week. Saturday the 15th afternoon is looking promising. A 4ft SSW groundswell with a long 18-second period, and a solid offshore wind at 15 mph. The energy is pumping at 1053. This is a clean, fast, lined-up wave. It’s a longer-period swell, so it might be a bit straight at a beach break, but at Hickory Bay it usually offers some good walls. This is another standout, but being a week out, we call it promising but not locked in.

The final push comes on Monday the 17th afternoon. It’s small at 2ft, but the south-southwest swell has a long 13-second period and the wind goes glassy. The energy is moderate at 563. It’ll be clean and fun on a longboard, but it’s not going to knock your socks off.

Now, for the expert-only warning. Tuesday the 18th is looking big and ugly. An 12ft SSW swell with a strong 18 mph onshore wind. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine. Even if you’re an expert, it’s going to be messy. We’ll skip that one.

So, to sum it up: the pick of the fortnight is Friday the 7th morning, with the Saturday the 15th afternoon a close second as the promising long-range call. The crowds could be there, but a clean day like that is worth sharing.

Alright, I’m out. Get amongst it.

Rusty

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