Hickory Bay - surf spot statistics

Hickory Bay in New Zealand offers consistent swell year-round, with no months recording zero swell, making it a reliable surf spot. The best conditions generally occur from April to July when the mean swell size peaks between 2.1m and 2.3m. During these months, ground swell dominates (60-62% in April-May), providing cleaner and more organized waves compared to wind swell. Wind conditions improve slightly in these months, with good wind days increasing to 25-29%, though onshore winds still prevail (71-75% bad conditions). The worst wind conditions are in summer (January-February and December), where bad winds exceed 80%. From August onwards, swell size gradually decreases, though September-October still offers decent waves around 2.0m. Summer months (December-February) see smaller swells (1.8-1.9m) and the highest wind swell influence (54-66%), resulting in choppier conditions. Overall, mid-autumn to mid-winter (April-July) is the prime window for surfers seeking larger, cleaner waves at Hickory Bay, with May standing out as the peak month thanks to strong ground swell (62%) and slightly improved wind odds (27% good).

April at Hickory Bay offers solid surf conditions with an average swell height of 2.1m and a healthy 11.0s period, indicating powerful, well-spaced waves. The swell distribution shows a dominant south-southwest (SSW) component, producing the highest percentage of quality waves—particularly in the 1.5-2.5m range—with SSW accounting for over 17% of swells between 1.5-2.5m and nearly 9% for 2-2.5m waves. South (S) and southeast (SE) swells also contribute, though less consistently. Wind conditions are the limiting factor, with only 26% of days offering ideal offshore or light cross-shore winds. The worst winds come from the north and northeast (N/NE), often blowing 10-30kph, creating choppy or blown-out conditions. SSW and SW winds, while less frequent, can be problematic when strong (20-40kph). For surfers, the best windows will be during lighter ESE or E winds, which are less common but align best with the dominant swell direction. Expect a mix of powerful, well-formed waves on good days but prepare for inconsistency due to wind interference. Advanced surfers will find the most opportunities, particularly when the SSW swell aligns with lighter winds.