Hickory Bay

Hickory Bay delivers a reliable beachbreak that peels both left and right over a sandy bottom. The standout lefts wedge up in the north corner, where the cliffs funnel energy into A-frames that can turn thick, hollow, and demanding when the swell gets overhead. Those same waves come with a price: the paddle-out becomes a punishing battle against relentless sweep and whitewater. Best on a moderate swell, with clean conditions and a lower tide to keep the walls from closing out.

Best Surf Season (April - September)

For Hickory Bay, the most consistent and high-quality surf window runs from April through September. As the Southern Ocean storm track shifts toward New Zealand during autumn and winter, the average surf size climbs from around 5ft (1.5m) in summer to 6-7ft (1.9-2.0m) by mid-winter, while average swell periods expand into the 10.8-11.3s range. The E/ESE/SE/SSE swell window - the direction that actually lights up this southeast-facing coastline - becomes more prominent, and offshore W/WNW/NW/NNW winds also become more frequent. The percentage of ideal surfing wind jumps from 25% in summer to 39-50% through this period, making the clean, lined-up, often powerful winter waves the main draw. This is peak Hickory Bay.