Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, S swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, S swell with 5,554 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 13s. The wind is predicted to be onshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay in the next 16 days are 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Sun 19th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Hickory Bay. The next couple of weeks are a mixed bag – a big pulse of swell rolls in right away, but it’s way too much for this spot and the conditions are poor. The water is sitting at 51°F with a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so it’s a little more pleasant than usual.
The first real window opens on Tuesday, 21 July. That morning you’ve got a solid 6 ft south swell, period 13 seconds – that’s proper groundswell with plenty of push. The wind is cross-offshore from the NNW at 3 mph, keeping things clean. The energy is moderate (1226), and the break is fairly consistent. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers; the size is a bit much for beginners, but the shape should be good. That afternoon the swell drops to 5 ft, still clean with a light offshore, and the energy eases to 759 – still very good conditions.
Then we hit a dry spell. Wednesday 22 July has small 3 ft waves, glassy in the morning, but it’s more of a longboard day. From Thursday 23 July through Monday 28 July, the surf is either tiny, messy, or too big with strong onshore wind. There’s a gap of nearly a week with nothing worth chasing.
A second chance pops up on Friday 31 July. The afternoon brings a 6 ft south swell, period 11 seconds, with a light offshore breeze from the north at 6 mph. The energy is 949 – moderate but clean. Expect very good conditions, and it’s a good size for intermediates. The following Monday, 3 August, also looks promising: morning 3 ft south-southwest swell, 13-second period, offshore wind 12 mph, energy 427 – clean and lined up. That afternoon nudges to 4 ft with the same period, still offshore, and energy 646 – very good again.
Overall, the standout is the Tuesday 21 July morning session – that’s your best bet. The later windows are decent but smaller. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because things can change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu night, min 7°C on Fri night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 8 | S 9 | ESE 12 | SSW 5 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | SW 7 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1788 | 2117 | 1546 | 5554 | 4113 | 2233 | 1155 | 702 | 389 | 161 | 175 | 127 | 37 | 24 | 27 | 14 | 27 | 21 | 51 | 831 | 3654 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 8:08PM1.89m | 8:38AM1.80m | 9:04PM1.80m | 9:37AM1.74m | 10:00PM1.71m | 10:35AM1.70m | 10:55PM1.65m | 11:30AM1.69m | 11:49PM1.61m | 12:21PM1.69m | 00:38AM1.60m | 1:08PM1.71m | 1:24AM1.61m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:56PM0.13m | 2:28AM0.16m | 2:52PM0.23m | 3:21AM0.23m | 3:47PM0.32m | 4:13AM0.30m | 4:42PM0.40m | 5:04AM0.36m | 5:35PM0.45m | 5:54AM0.39m | 6:26PM0.47m | 6:40AM0.41m | 7:14PM0.48m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — | — | 5:19 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 8 |
Feels °C | 4 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 19 | S 18 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 9 | NNE 6 | NNE 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 16 | NE 8 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 1788 | 2117 | 1546 | 5554 | 4113 | 2233 | 1155 | 702 | 389 | 161 | 175 | 127 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 141 | 171 | 21 | 51 | 110 | 1895 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 18 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | NNE 4 | NE 4 | ESE 11 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | ESE 11 | S 8 | SSW 5 | ENE 6 | SW 10 | SE 16 | SE 15 |
| kJ | 357 | 317 | 520 | 127 | 125 | 77 | 16 | 9 | 23 | 52 | 18 | 26 | 37 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 27 | 16 | 24 | 132 | 226 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 12 | — | — | — | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | SSE 11 | ESE 11 | SSW 8 | ESE 12 | SSE 9 | NNE 6 | SE 13 | SE 12 | NNE 7 |
| kJ | — | — | 190 | — | — | — | 71 | 48 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 14 | 15 | 7 | 26 | 22 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 6 | — | — | — | — | N 3 | NNE 4 | — | — | — | — | NE 3 | NE 5 | NE 5 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | — | NNW 4 | NNE 6 | SW 7 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 106 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 27 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 41 | 36 | 91 | 194 | — | 24 | 325 | 831 | 3654 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 13 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 102 | 172 | 13 | 145 | 171 | 39 |
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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