Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 04 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.7° C
1.2° 

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 4 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 12s period, S swell with 8,417 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period with SSE 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.4m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 5.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 7th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf12PM (Fri 7th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 17s
Most Powerful 6AM (Wed 5th Aug)18ft (5.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk about what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we're looking at a pretty rough start. The first few days are a write-off – big, unruly, wind-affected swell slamming the coast. From Tuesday the 4th through to Thursday the 6th, it's a mess of onshore winds and poor conditions. You don't want to be out there. The water temp is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than we'd expect for this time of year, so you'll want a good hood and gloves.

Things start to turn around on Friday the 7th. That morning, the wind drops right out, going glassy, with a clean 6ft swell from the SSE. The combined energy is moderate (954). That's a real nice window for a paddle. The afternoon gets even better with a 5ft swell from the S, but check this out: the period jumps to 16 seconds – that's a proper, long-period groundswell. This will be breaking clean with the cross-offshore wind. It's a standout for experienced surfers.

Saturday the 8th keeps the good times rolling. Morning glass-off with a clean 6ft S swell (1106 energy). It's offshore, it's clean, and the sets will have some push. This is right up there with Friday as the best of the week.

We get a bit lumpy and messy through Sunday and Monday (9th and 10th), with dropping swell and cross-shore winds. Not a total loss, but not worth getting excited about. Tuesday and Wednesday (12th and 13th) see a brief pulse of shorter-period ESE swell (7 seconds), but it's small and clean enough for a fun, easy session if you're desperate.

Then we hit a proper lull. From Thursday the 14th all the way through to Monday the 18th, the forecast is stale. Small, weak, and mostly wind-affected. There's a gap of about 4 or 5 days where there's really nothing to recommend.

Then, mate, keep your eyes on the 19th. Wednesday the 19th sees a massive jump. An 12ft swell from the SSW, with an 11-second period, and light offshore winds. The combined energy is monstrous (5453). The problem is, it's too big for this break. The report says it's predicted to be too big for this spot. That's strictly for the big-wave crew, and even then, you'd want to be very careful. The afternoon is the same story – massive, clean, but for the big-wave crew only.

So, overall, the standout is Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th. That's the window for the best, cleanest, most manageable surf. The 19th is a beast, but it's not for everyone.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Heavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Mild temperatures (max 9°C on Thu morning, min 4°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Tue night, light winds from the WNW by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
3
3
4
4
4
2
1
1
2
1
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
14
4
S
12
5
S
12
5
S
12
4
S
12
3.5
S
12
3
S
11
2.3
S
11
1.2
SSE
12
1.8
SSE
10
1.6
S
16
2
S
14
1.8
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.3
S
11
1.1
S
11
0.8
SSE
14
1
S
13
1.1
S
12
1
S
11
1.1
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3972
4656
6662
6736
4596
3027
2034
1208
419
641
1242
1444
1005
722
410
275
250
350
322
229
250
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
40
SSW
40
SW
35
SSW
30
SW
25
SW
20
WSW
20
SW
10
NW
5
NW
10
ENE
10
NW
5
NW
10
WNW
15
NNW
20
NW
15
WNW
15
SSW
15
SW
15
SE
20
SE
Wind State
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
on
on
cross
cross
High Tide
9:39AM1.59m
10:04PM1.65m
10:22AM1.63m
10:51PM1.66m
11:10AM1.67m
11:41PM1.67m
12:04PM1.70m
00:33AM1.67m
1:01PM1.74m
1:29AM1.67m
2:00PM1.77m
2:29AM1.68m
2:59PM1.81m
Low Tide
3:49PM0.29m
4:19AM0.27m
4:38PM0.30m
5:05AM0.28m
5:29PM0.31m
5:54AM0.28m
6:23PM0.31m
6:46AM0.27m
7:22PM0.29m
7:41AM0.25m
8:22PM0.24m
8:41AM0.22m
9:21PM0.19m
mod rain
light rain
mod rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:21
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:25
 mm
6
3
6
2
2
2
1
1
2
3
Temp °C
7
7
6
8
8
8
9
9
6
9
11
9
15
15
13
13
15
11
11
11
11
Feels °C
0
-2
-5
-1
1
1
3
4
3
7
8
5
12
12
9
9
12
9
8
7
6
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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