Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Break

Lat Long: 43.78° S 173.12° E

Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay sea temperature is
10.2° C
1.2° 

Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with 4,398 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period with S 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. 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 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 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Wed 19th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Best Surf 6AM (Wed 19th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 6AM (Wed 19th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here with the full rundown on what’s coming our way. We’ve got a solid run of surf on the cards for Banks Peninsula, so let’s get into it.

The opening action is a bit of a handful, but the pattern settles into some clean, quality windows. The standout is definitely the Monday the 24th, with a beautiful long-period SSW groundswell coming in at 5 ft and a 15 second period, combined with light cross-off winds. The water temp is sitting right around average for this time of year, so nothing unusual to worry about there. The combined energy is strong at 1125, and this is prime for experienced surfers—clean lines, plenty of power, and those longer lulls between sets making it easier to paddle out.

The week starts with a bang on Wednesday the 19th, but watch out—the swell is a solid 10 ft from the south with a 14 second period and a combined energy of 3513. That’s way too big for this spot, so only for the die-hards or maybe more interesting for the kite crowd. Thursday the 20th drops to 5 ft but the wind and tide aren’t cooperating, so it’s a bit ordinary.

Friday the 21st is where it starts to clean up. The morning has a clean 4 ft S swell with a 13 second period, and light offshore winds from the north—good shape, not too big, a nice session for most. The afternoon holds up too with a 4 ft swell and offshore breezes.

Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd are small and weak, with energy dropping into the double digits. Saturday morning has 3 ft and Sunday is a glassy 1.0 ft—not much to write home about.

Then we hit that Monday the 24th—that’s the one. 5 ft SSW groundswell, 15 seconds, light cross-off NW winds, and the energy is cranking. Definitely the pick of the week. Tuesday the 25th is still surfable with 3 ft but the quality drops off a bit.

The forecast gets a bit messy again mid-week, with Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th showing onshore winds and choppy conditions. Thursday actually has some decent swell size (5 ft, 15 seconds) but the wind is strong and cross-off, keeping it marginal.

Friday the 28th brings a shift—NE swell at 7 ft in the morning, too big for this break, but the afternoon sees 6 ft with offshore winds and clean conditions. That’s a good session for anyone comfortable in overhead waves.

The last weekend of the month (30th and 31st) is looking special. Sunday the 30th morning has a 5 ft SSW groundswell at 15 seconds, light cross-off breeze, and excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The afternoon, though, blows up to 13 ft with a 16 second period—that’s massive, combined energy of 8244, so definitely only for the hardcore crew. Then Monday the 31st serves up glassy 6 ft S swell in the morning and 5 ft in the afternoon—clean, smooth, and inviting.

Into early September, Tuesday the 1st is messy with onshore wind, and Wednesday the 2nd sees another big pulse of 8 ft SSW swell—too big for this spot again. Thursday the 3rd drops back to 5 ft but the wind is cross-on and choppy.

So, the real standouts are Monday the 24th and Sunday the 30th morning. If you can only pick one, make it the 24th—that’s gold.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue night. Very mild (max 10°C on Wed afternoon, min 7°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Tue night, calm by Thu night).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
!
!
!
2
2
4
3
2
2
0
1
0
1
0
3
4
3
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
S
14
3
S
14
2.4
S
14
2.1
S
13
1.6
S
11
1.6
S
12
1.6
S
16
1.3
S
13
1.2
S
12
1
S
11
0.9
S
10
0.7
S
10
0.3
ESE
14
0.3
ESE
13
0.4
SSW
5
1.4
SSW
13
1.6
SSW
15
1.4
SSW
14
1.3
SSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
5525
3471
2217
1423
632
746
1241
564
390
227
164
94
36
35
10
633
1059
746
459
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
10
WSW
10
SW
15
SSW
10
SW
10
SSW
5
N
15
N
20
NNE
10
NW
20
NW
25
NNW
35
NW
5
SSW
10
WNW
10
NW
10
NW
10
NW
15
NW
Wind State
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
glassy
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:03AM1.71m
9:26PM1.64m
10:00AM1.68m
10:23PM1.59m
10:56AM1.66m
11:17PM1.57m
11:48AM1.67m
00:08AM1.57m
12:36PM1.69m
00:54AM1.59m
1:21PM1.72m
1:36AM1.62m
Low Tide
2:46AM0.31m
3:16PM0.40m
3:38AM0.38m
4:11PM0.46m
4:30AM0.42m
5:04PM0.49m
5:20AM0.45m
5:54PM0.50m
6:08AM0.44m
6:42PM0.49m
6:53AM0.41m
7:26PM0.45m
light rain
light rain
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:11
7:09
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:45
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
 mm
1
1
Temp °C
8
9
10
8
10
10
8
9
9
8
12
13
13
12
14
11
15
17
13
Feels °C
0
5
7
5
7
7
6
5
5
5
6
8
5
9
11
8
11
13
9
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

Are you planning a holiday in Canterbury? If you are looking for accommodation near Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Canterbury, consider staying in Christchurch which is 44 km (27 miles) away.

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