Blackhead Surf Forecast and Surf Reports

(The Wairarapa, New Zealand)

Forecast
- Hourly Forecast
- 16 Day Forecast
Maps
Live
Weather State
Spot Information

Blackhead Surf Guide

Blackhead in the Waiararpa is an exposed point break that only works when conditions are just right with no particular seasonal pattern. Ideal winds are from the west. Most of the surf here comes from groundswells and the ideal swell direction is from the southeast. Best around low tide. When the surf is up, it can get quite busy in the water. Watch out for dangerous rips.

Blackhead Spot Info

Type:	Rating:	Reliability:	Todays Sea Temp*:
Point	3	inconsistent	15.5°C*ocean temperature recorded from satellite

Surfing Blackhead:

The best conditions reported for surf at Blackhead occur when a Southeast swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the West.

Hourly Forecast

16 Day Forecast

What's the best time of year to surf Blackhead (for consistent clean waves)?

mayBest Season: winter

The best time of year for surfing Blackhead with consistent clean waves (rideable swell with light / offshore winds) is during Winter and most often the month of May. Clean surfable waves are typically found 29% of the time in May while 31% of the time it tends to be blown out. For the remaining 40% of the time it is considered too small by most surfers but may still be OK for beginners and groms at times.

clean

29%

Surfable waves that hold up well for longer rides in prevailing cross-offshore, offshore or light wind conditions.

blown out

31%

Surfable sized waves that are of poorer quality due to prevailing onshore, cross-onshore or windy conditions (may be preferable for kitesurfing).

too small

40%

Waves usually considered too small for good surf. Some wave-magnet breaks may still work though if conditions are right (on occasion).

Explore Blackhead Location Map

Interactive Blackhead surf break location map. View information about nearby surf breaks, their wave consistency and rating compared to other spots in the region. Current swell conditions from local buoys are shown along with live wind speed and direction from nearby weather stations. Click icons on the map for more detail. The closest passenger airport to Blackhead is Palmerston North Airport (PMR) in New Zealand, 89 km (55 miles) away (directly). The second nearest airport to Blackhead is Masterton Airport (MRO), also in New Zealand, 114 km (71 miles) away.

Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)

Please note that some surf spot locations are approximate to protect their exact location while others are not shown at close zoom level.

Blackhead Surf Forecasts:

Hourly Forecast

16 Day Forecast

Todays Surf Summary
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 16:13 Local Time

m, °C	Wednesday 06			Thu
ft, °F	3PM	6PM	9PM	0AM
Wave (m)	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW
Period (s)	15	14	14	14
Wind (km/h)
Wind State	cross- on	cross	cross- off	cross- off

What does Blackhead look like?

Latest photos from Blackhead. Upload your own or view all photos on the gallery page.

Credit: HAU BOYS CHB!!Credit: HAU BOYS CHB!Credit: HAU BOYS CHB Credit: Kooza Credit: Kooza

Tides at Blackhead

Current tide and informaton

For Blackhead, 0 km from Blackhead.

Next High Water: 09:02pm | 1.39m

Next Low Water: 03:26am | 0.27m

NEXT	IS AT (local time)	remaining
high tide
low tide

Blackhead Sea Temperature

The water temperature (15.5 °C) at Blackhead is quite cool. If the sun shines as we have forecast, it should feel warm enough to surf in a good spring wetsuit. Effective windchill factor of (19.0 °C) will make the air and water feel about the same temperature.

Today, many surfers would wear a spring wetsuit.

Current Temp*: 15.5°C*ocean temperature recorded from satellite