Hickory Bay • Surf Spot Statistics

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.

Fair Surf Season (March and October - November)

The shoulder months bring a mix of solid swells and less cooperative winds. March still has the late-summer/autumn body with 1.8m (5.9ft) average swell and 10.8s periods, but only 30% ideal wind. October and November are the spring transition: the Southern Ocean is still active, sending 1.6-1.7m (5.2-5.6ft) swells with 10.0-10.5s periods, yet the wind scales tip back toward NE/SSW and the clean offshore window drops to 29-36%. When a low-pressure system tracks east and a W/NW flow sets up behind a front, the bay can still deliver excellent sessions, but you have to pick your windows.

Low Surf Season (December - February)

Summer is the quiet and fickle season at Hickory Bay. Average swell heights drop to 1.5-1.6m (4.9-5.2ft) with periods around 9.4-10.2s, and ideal offshore wind is only present 25-26% of the time. The prevailing NE wind pattern becomes far more dominant, particularly in late morning and afternoon, combining with a steady feed of shorter-period E/ESE/SE/SSE windswell and occasional background groundswell. Early mornings with light W/NW winds and a pulse of E/SE groundswell can still produce clean summer surf, but consistency is low. This is the time to wait for a swell event rather than chase daily waves.