Surf Forecasts:
Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s period, NE swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 7,247 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay in the next 16 days are 4.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Banks Peninsula - Hickory Bay over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it—this 16-day window at Banks Peninsula’s Hickory Bay is a proper mixed bag. We’ve got some serious swell energy coming through, but a lot of it is just too big for this spot. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The action kicks off on Thursday, August 13, with a solid 7ft NE swell and 8-second period. The wind is a moderate offshore in the morning, so it’s clean, but honestly, that swell is too big for Hickory Bay—it’s a beginner-friendly break, so this is pushing it. The combined energy is moderate (778). Thursday afternoon is similar with a 7ft swell and light cross-offshore wind, energy ramping up to 1006. Again, too big for the average punter.
Friday, August 14, sees the swell drop to 4ft from the ENE in the morning, but it’s cross-onshore so it’s choppy. Then Friday afternoon is the first real standout: glassy conditions, 4ft NE swell, period 8 seconds. The energy is 239—on the weaker side—but those clean, glassy waves are perfect for a longboard or a funboard. This is the best session of the first week for anyone wanting a relaxed paddle.
Saturday, August 15, goes to crap. Swell is tiny at 2ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, but the wind is onshore and strong. Energy is 419 but the quality is poor. Sunday is even worse—onshore winds and messy.
Monday, August 17, is a bright spot: morning brings a 4ft SSW swell, period 14 seconds, with light cross-offshore winds. The energy is 804, and the conditions are clean. This is a solid session for intermediate surfers. The swell is a bit long in period, so expect some lulls between sets, but the shape should be good.
Then the wheels fall off. Tuesday, August 18, has 18-22 mph winds and 10ft SSW swell—absolute chaos. Energy hits 1441. Wednesday, August 19, sees a massive 12ft SSW swell with 15-second period and energy at 9936. That’s strong, but it’s too big for Hickory Bay and the wind is cross-shore. Only experts should even think about it. Thursday, August 20, is a gem: 6ft S swell, 11-second period, light WNW cross-offshore wind, clean conditions. Energy is 903. This is another standout—good size, clean, and well-shaped.
The second week gets quieter. Friday, August 21, has a 3ft S swell with an 18-second period, and Friday afternoon is glassy with 3ft S swell. Energy is 635-710. Glassy and clean, but small. Saturday, August 22, is 4ft S swell with NNW offshore winds—clean but weak, energy around 315. Sunday, August 23, is tiny (2-3ft) and clean but ordinary.
Monday, August 24, brings another massive pulse: 13ft SSW swell, 12-second period, energy 5768, with fresh offshore winds. That’s for experts only. Tuesday, August 25, drops to 2ft SE swell with a very long 17-second period and clean conditions—energy 589. A nice gentle session for beginners. Wednesday, August 26, is similar with 2ft SE swell. Thursday, August 27, gets messy again with 5ft ENE swell and rain, then 10ft NE swell later. Friday, August 28, is a write-off: 8ft ENE swell with 18 mph winds.
Bottom line: the standout sessions are Friday afternoon, August 14 for glassy small waves, Monday morning, August 17 for clean intermediate fun, and Thursday, August 20 for a really nice clean swell. Everything else is either too big, too windy, or too small.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Sat afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Sat afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 10°C on Mon afternoon, min 4°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SW by Tue afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | ESE 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1065 | 634 | 510 | 191 | 158 | 133 | 151 | 273 | 269 | 337 | 326 | 644 | 935 | 651 | 746 | 214 | 556 | 1312 | 6223 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 8:06AM1.77m | 8:30PM1.71m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 2:22PM0.31m | 2:46AM0.31m | ||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:38 | — | — | 5:39 | — | — | 5:40 | — | — | 5:42 | — | — | 5:43 | — | — | 5:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
Feels °C | 4 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 5 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 9 | ESE 9 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | ESE 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 9 | E 10 |
| kJ | 16 | 26 | 414 | 191 | 158 | 133 | 151 | 128 | 121 | 108 | 326 | 644 | 935 | 651 | 124 | 214 | 116 | 59 | 31 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SE 14 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | ENE 9 | SSW 12 | ENE 10 | E 10 | ESE 12 |
| kJ | 31 | 67 | 25 | 31 | 42 | 60 | 103 | 273 | 269 | 337 | 77 | 55 | 70 | 117 | 32 | 160 | 34 | 53 | 15 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | SE 14 | ESE 14 | SE 14 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 |
| kJ | 20 | 51 | 57 | 50 | 43 | 45 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 60 | 36 | 33 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 7 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | — | SSW 3 | SSW 2 | — | SSW 2 | S 3 | S 6 | S 7 | S 7 | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 16 |
| kJ | 1065 | 634 | 510 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 5 | 255 | 308 | 250 | — | — | 746 | 176 | 556 | 1312 | 6223 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 27 | 27 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 35 |
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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