Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.8° C
1.4° 

Blacks Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Blacks Reef surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 19s period, S swell with 5,059 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s period with S swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Blacks Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 2.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 26) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Tue 21st Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s
Best Surf 3PM (Tue 21st Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 9PM (Mon 20th Jul)8ft (2.5m) 19s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a solid run of Southern Ocean groundswell coming through, but it’s not a straightforward call. The standout is Blacks Reef, a reef break that’s very consistent and exposed to the south. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget the booties. The real action kicks off Sunday the 19th with a clean 7 ft south swell and a very long 18-second period, but the wind is light and cross, so it won't be glassy perfection. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, so Sunday morning is the pick of that day.

Monday the 20th is a write-off with onshore wind and a marginal 6 ft to 8 ft south swell. Tuesday the 21st shows a major improvement. The morning is clean with a light cross breeze and a 7 ft south swell (16 seconds), but the real gem is Tuesday afternoon: glassy conditions, a clean 7 ft south swell with a 15-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 1796 (moderate-to-strong). That’s the best you’ll see all week—smooth, powerful, and begging for a late session.

The swell drops through Wednesday and Thursday the 22nd and 23rd, with the waves getting smaller and cleaner. Wednesday morning has 4 ft of south swell with glassy conditions but the energy is weak (529). Thursday is tiny, under 3 ft. Friday the 24th is flat and not worth the paddle.

The weekend of the 25th and 26th blows out with strong cross-onshore winds and lumpy seas. A big 10 ft south swell hits Monday the 27th, but with 25 mph onshore wind, it’s a complete mess—only for the kamikaze crew or kite surfers.

Now, here’s the real promise. Tuesday the 28th is the standout of the entire outlook. Morning starts with a clean 10 ft south swell (13 seconds) and a light cross-offshore breeze. The afternoon turns glassy, dead calm, and the swell stays at 10 ft with very long period (13 seconds) and a combined energy of 2850 (strong). That’s big, powerful, and clean—expert territory only. Wednesday the 29th is still excellent, with 7 ft dropping to 6 ft, clean and glassy conditions, and lighter energy. The rest of the run into the first week of August fades to small, clean, and mostly ordinary surf, with the next pulse of 8 ft to 13 ft south swell arriving on Monday the 3rd of August, but it’s predicted to be too big for this break, with strong onshore winds ruining the shape.

Bottom line: your best windows are Tuesday afternoon the 21st for a glassy, solid south swell, and Tuesday the 28th for the biggest, cleanest, most powerful groundswell of the run. That Tuesday the 28th is the one to circle on the calendar.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed morning, fresh winds from the W by Fri night).

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
1
1
2
3
4
3
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
S
18
2
S
17
1.7
S
16
1.8
S
15
2.3
S
19
2.5
S
18
2.2
S
16
2
S
15
1.6
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
1
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.5
S
13
0.4
SSW
11
0.3
S
10
0.4
S
9
0.3
SE
11
1.4
SW
7
1.3
SSW
8
0.6
SE
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2796
2373
1452
1415
3752
4586
2374
1699
905
501
342
292
163
86
37
17
26
19
178
201
208
Wind (km/h)
10
W
20
SSW
15
SSW
10
SSW
15
S
10
S
10
W
5
SSE
10
NNW
5
NW
5
ESE
5
WNW
10
N
10
NE
15
NNW
15
NNW
20
NNW
30
WNW
30
WNW
25
NW
35
W
Wind State
cross
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-off
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
High Tide
9:27AM1.75m
9:50PM1.81m
10:17AM1.72m
10:42PM1.74m
11:07AM1.68m
11:33PM1.68m
11:59AM1.65m
00:24AM1.62m
12:54PM1.62m
1:14AM1.58m
1:46PM1.61m
2:03AM1.55m
2:36PM1.59m
2:51AM1.51m
Low Tide
3:36PM0.13m
4:12AM0.14m
4:30PM0.21m
5:02AM0.20m
5:23PM0.29m
5:51AM0.28m
6:15PM0.36m
6:39AM0.36m
7:08PM0.42m
7:27AM0.42m
8:00PM0.47m
8:15AM0.47m
8:50PM0.50m
clear
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:10
5:12
 mm
Temp °C
13
13
12
11
11
10
10
11
9
11
12
9
13
14
10
14
14
12
12
14
13
Feels °C
9
9
8
8
7
7
7
9
6
9
10
7
10
11
6
9
9
6
7
8
5
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Blacks Reef Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Blacks Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Blacks Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Blacks Reef 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 (Blacks Reef) 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 Blacks Reef 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.

Blacks Reef is 50 km (31 miles) from the city of Gisborne. If you plan a holiday in Gisborne and Mahia, look for hotels and other accommodation in Gisborne. Gisborne has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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