Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' for Hickory Bay.

First up, the water temp is sittin' around 51°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That's a nice little bonus.

The next few days are a bit of a mixed bag, but the real story is the size. Thursday the 27th we've got a solid 7ft southerly swell rollin' in, with a super long 16 second period. That's some proper groundswell energy, and the combined energy is a hefty 2504 (moderate to strong). The wind is cross-off from the ENE, so it'll be clean. But honestly, this break is a beginner spot, and that's just too much water movin' around for a learner. It's more of a show than a go.

Friday the 28th is the same story, but even bigger. We're lookin' at a 10ft northeasterly swell in the morning, dropping to 8ft in the arvo. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it'll be a bit jumbled, but the wind is offshore and clean. Again, unless you're a solid expert, this is way too much. The combined energy is 1616, dropping to 1289. This is a powerful, messy, and big swell.

Now, Saturday the 29th, things finally settle down. Morning brings a tiny 3ft S swell with a 10-second period. The wind is light, so it'll be clean. The combined energy is only 200 (weak). It's small, but it's a paddlin' option for the absolute beginner. By the afternoon, the wind goes glassy and the swell stays at 3ft, but from the NE with a short 8 second period. It's surfable, but very ordinary.

Sunday the 30th is a bit of a write-off. The morning has a 4ft SSW swell with a decent 13 second period, but the wind is cross-off. The energy is a weak 551. The afternoon is a no-go with onshore winds and poor conditions.

Monday the 31st is when the big stuff comes back. We're talkin' a massive 13ft SSW swell with a 12 second period. The combined energy is a whopping 6482 (very strong). The wind is light and cross-off in the morning, so it'll be clean but unsurfable for most. The 8ft afternoon is still only for experts.

Tuesday the 1st of September keeps the size up with a 10ft S swell in the morning and 8ft in the afternoon, both with offshore winds. The energy is 2316 and 1432. Still too big for the average punter.

Honestly, the standout here is a risky one. Look at Thursday the 4th of September. We've got a 4ft SSW swell with a long 15 second period, and the wind is a light cross-off from the NNE. The combined energy is 598 (weak to moderate). The forecast notes "expect very good surf conditions." It's a solid window for a beginner-friendly wave. The size is manageable, the period is good, and the wind is kind. It's a bit of a wait, but that's the one to circle on the calendar.

Summary: The next week is a mess of huge, unsurfable swell or tiny, weak waves. The best bet is to wait for Thursday the 4th of September. That's a cracker of a morning for a beginner. The rest of the window after that is either too small, too windy, or too big again.

Rusty.

Read more