Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what Hickory Bay has cookin’ for us over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a lot to get through, so strap in.

Alright, the big story for this stretch starts with a real bang of energy – we’re talking a combined energy reading of 1820 (strong to very strong) for Thursday afternoon the 9th of July. The water temp is sitting at 52°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, a nice little bonus. Swell’s coming from the east at 7 ft. Now, that’s a solid size, but on its own, it’s predicted to be too big for Hickory Bay, which is a beginner-friendly spot. The wind is a 12 mph onshore from the SSW, so while there’s lots of energy, the conditions are messy and the size is a worry for the typical crew here.

The next real standout is Saturday the 11th of July, especially the afternoon. The wind drops to an absolute glass-off – 0 mph from the north. The swell drops to a much more manageable 4 ft from the south with a very long period of 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is still moderate (911), but glassy conditions on a south swell at a break like this, which is exposed and has an optimum from the SE, should tidy up nicely. This is likely the cleanest window for a paddle in the first week.

Then we hit a bit of a lull. From Sunday the 12th right through to Wednesday the 15th, the swell gets small, mostly under 3 ft, and while the wind is often offshore from the north, the wave energy is quite weak. There’s a nice-looking window Tuesday afternoon the 14th with another glass-off, but the swell is back up to 7 ft from the NE – again, too big for the break. A real tease.

The second week has a better run. From Saturday the 18th of July onward, things start looking up. Saturday morning and afternoon look excellent for experienced surfers. We’ve got a 6 ft to 5 ft swell from the ESE with a period of 13 seconds, fresh groundswell, and a light offshore/cross-off wind from the WNW and NW. The energy is strong (1555 and 1091). That’s a proper session for those who know what they’re doing.

Sunday the 19th holds clean, with a 5 ft to 4 ft ESE swell and light offshore winds. Then Monday the 20th is a real gem. Monday afternoon, the swell switches to the SSW at 4 ft with a very long 16-second period. The wind is glassy, and the combined energy whacks up to 1111. The break is fairly consistent, but crowds are possible here, so keep that in mind for this one. Tuesday the 21st is another beauty – glassy morning, 4 ft SSW long-period swell (14 seconds) and a combined energy of 1157. Excellent conditions for experienced surfers again. Wednesday the 22nd is still good, slowly winding down.

Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th get blown out by a fresh breeze, so forget about them. The last run on Friday afternoon the 24th shows a 3 ft swell from the SSW with a very long 19-second period, but the wind is a moderate cross-off. Conditions are marginal at best.

So, my pick of the whole 16 days? Saturday 11th July afternoon for the absolute glass-off with a solid south groundswell. And then Monday 20th July afternoon and Tuesday 21st July morning for that clean, long-period SSW swell that just sets up perfectly for experienced surfers at Hickory Bay. Just be aware the second week is a bit further out, so keep an eye on those forecasts.

Stay stoked.
Rusty

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