Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 7s period, NE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 15s period, S swell with 4,974 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 7s period with NE 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 12) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay in the next 16 days are 3.5m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 11ft (3.5m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for our little slice of coast. Let’s break it down.
First off, the water is sitting at 50°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a small win. But we’re in for a bit of a mixed bag.
The first real action kicks off Tuesday afternoon, the 11th of August, at Hickory Bay. It’s not going to blow your mind, with a 5ft SE swell and a short 8-second period, and the combined energy is weak (286). The wind is a moderate cross-off, so it’s clean enough for a beginner to get a few. It’s a fairly consistent spot, and crowds are only sometimes, so you might have it mostly to yourself.
Things get a bit wild on Wednesday the 12th. The swell jumps up to 8ft in the morning, then 10ft in the afternoon. That’s too big for a beginner, and the 10ft with a 7 to 8-second period is just a lumpy mess, especially with a fresh cross-off wind. The afternoon has a huge combined energy of 975 (moderate), but it’s more of a washing machine.
The true standout of the first week is Thursday morning, the 13th of August. We’ve got a 7ft swell from the ENE, a 8-second period, and a moderate wind that’s blowing offshore. The combined energy is moderate (565). The waves will be clean and lined up. This is the best call for the first few days.
Friday the 14th fades pretty quick. The 4ft and 3ft swells are small, but Friday afternoon turns glassy with a 3ft NE swell. The energy is very weak (156), so it’s more of a longboard session.
The second week gets spicy, but it’s mostly for the brave. A massive groundswell rolls in on Monday the 17th of August, with a 5ft S swell and a very long 14-second period. The combined energy is strong (1189). That kind of period is a gift for a point, but at a beach break it can get a bit straight. The wind is light and cross-shore, so it’s clean, but it’s a marginal call.
The real monster week is from the 19th to the 21st of August. The swell is 8ft to 10ft with periods from 11 to 14 seconds, and the combined energy is massive (thousands). This is expert-only territory. The winds are light on the 21st of August, turning glassy morning and afternoon, with a 5ft S swell. If you’re a seasoned charger, the 21st of August morning is the best this whole forecast has to offer—clean, 5ft, and glassy.
The last days of the month, from the 24th of August, fade back to smaller, clean conditions with 3ft to 2ft swells and long periods, perfect for a cruiser.
So, to sum it up: the best bet for the average surfer is Thursday morning, the 13th of August, with 7ft of clean offshore swell. For the experienced crew, the 21st of August is the one to circle.
Stay stoked, and keep an eye on the sky.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Tue afternoon). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NE on Wed morning, calm by Thu afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Fri afternoon, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri afternoon, fresh winds from the S by Sat night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SE 8 | SE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 227 | 100 | 501 | 928 | 1019 | 489 | 268 | 168 | 117 | 71 | 103 | 269 | 191 | 356 | 382 | 524 | 589 | 1077 | 700 | 447 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:46AM1.95m | 3:19PM2.12m | 3:39AM1.98m | 4:10PM2.12m | 4:32AM1.98m | 5:01PM2.07m | 5:24AM1.95m | 5:52PM2.00m | 6:17AM1.90m | 6:43PM1.91m | 7:10AM1.84m | 7:35PM1.81m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:41PM0.11m | 8:59AM-0.02m | 9:35PM0.07m | 9:53AM-0.04m | 10:28PM0.05m | 10:47AM-0.02m | 11:20PM0.05m | 11:40AM0.03m | 00:11AM0.09m | 12:34PM0.11m | 1:03AM0.15m | 1:27PM0.21m | 1:54AM0.23m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | |  |  |  | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — |
 | 5:37 | — | — | 5:37 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 8 | SE 7 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NE 7 | ENE 7 | SSW 16 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 15 | NE 8 | S 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 227 | 100 | 33 | 35 | 16 | 489 | 268 | 168 | 117 | 71 | 66 | 269 | 73 | 76 | 246 | 18 | 589 | 1077 | 700 | 447 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 11 | SE 11 | SSW 15 | S 20 | SSW 18 | ESE 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | SSW 16 | ESE 13 | NE 8 | ESE 12 | NE 9 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 |
| kJ | 43 | 29 | 23 | 8 | 31 | 27 | 38 | 32 | 29 | 39 | 57 | 46 | 191 | 17 | 32 | 15 | 23 | 75 | 82 | 47 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 21 | S 15 | ESE 14 | SE 14 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | NE 7 | ESE 13 | E 11 | E 8 | E 8 | ESE 12 | SE 15 | ESE 9 | ESE 9 |
| kJ | 14 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 20 | 49 | 57 | 50 | 43 | 44 | 103 | 43 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 37 | 16 | 50 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | NE 5 | NE 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | — | — | — | SW 3 | SW 3 | — | — | S 3 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 92 | 501 | 928 | 1019 | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 4 | 356 | 382 | 524 | 349 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 27 | 81 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 44 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
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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