Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 02 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.6°C
1.0° 

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 2 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, S swell with 3,398 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s 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 Wednesday (Sep 02) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.5m and 16s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Friday (Sep 04) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Wed 2nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 16s
Best Surf 6PM (Wed 2nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 16s
Most Powerful 6PM (Wed 2nd Sep)8ft (2.5m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’ve got one spot on the radar for the next 16 days, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag – a real feast-or-famine situation.

The window kicks off with a bang on Wednesday, September 2nd. We’re looking at a solid 8 ft to 8 ft south swell, with a very long period of 14 to 17 seconds. That’s proper groundswell. The energy is huge – we’re talking 3076 to 4137 – so there’s some serious power in the water. The wind is light and cross-offshore, making for clean, lined-up waves. This is excellent, but it’s for experienced surfers only. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than what we’d normally expect for this time of year. The swell direction is straight out of the south, which is the optimum for Blacks Reef. This is a standout session, but only for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Thursday the 3rd sees a drop in size to 6 ft in the morning, still with a good 13-second period. The energy is still moderate (1077). The wind stays light and cross-off, so conditions remain clean. This is a solid option for the more experienced surfer, but the quality is a notch down from Wednesday.

By Friday the 4th, the swell fades fast. We’re down to 3 ft, and the energy drops to 155. The wind picks up, making for poor conditions. This is a write-off for the weekend. Saturday and Sunday are looking flat and messy, with weak, short-period chop. You’re not missing anything.

The first week of September is a bit of a gap for decent surf. We’ve got a few weak, small swells that are surfable but very ordinary. The energy is low, under 200. Nothing to get excited about.

Then we hit a major red flag. Around Monday, September 14th, the swell starts to jack up. By Tuesday the 15th, we’re looking at 13 ft to 15 ft of south swell, with a period of 12 seconds. The energy is massive – 4203 to 6087. Wednesday the 16th looks even bigger, with 16 ft and energy hitting 7071. This is colossal. The wind is light and offshore, which would be perfect, but the swell is simply too big for this break. It’s a call for experts only, and even then, it’s likely to be a washing machine. This is a big, powerful, dangerous swell.

The final days of the forecast, September 17th, drop back to 8 ft to 10 ft, but the wind shifts to a cross-onshore, making for choppy, less appealing conditions.

The standout is hands-down Wednesday, September 2nd. That 8 ft, 17-second south groundswell with light cross-offshore winds is a gift from the ocean for those who can handle it. The other potential highlight is the massive swell mid-month, but it’s a beast that’s too big for this reef. Crowds are likely at Blacks Reef, especially on the good days.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Mon morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun night, min 8°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
Monday
7
Tuesday
8
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
3
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.4
S
14
2.5
S
17
2.3
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.4
S
13
1
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.4
S
10
0.9
SSW
8
0.7
SSW
8
0.6
S
9
0.7
SSW
10
0.4
SSW
17
0.3
S
17
0.2
S
16
2.3
SSW
7
2.3
S
10
1.7
S
10
1.5
S
10
1.3
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2073
4137
2155
1077
610
268
146
72
30
83
70
55
112
97
52
21
446
1034
557
415
282
Wind (km/h)
10
NW
10
ENE
15
WNW
10
NW
5
NNW
15
NW
20
NW
25
NW
15
WNW
10
W
5
ENE
10
NNW
20
NW
20
N
25
NW
20
NW
30
SSW
5
N
15
NW
5
S
5
W
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
off
cross-off
on
glassy
High Tide
9:13AM1.70m
9:40PM1.69m
9:59AM1.73m
10:30PM1.68m
10:50AM1.74m
11:22PM1.67m
11:46AM1.74m
00:17AM1.65m
12:46PM1.73m
1:15AM1.63m
1:45PM1.73m
2:15AM1.61m
2:43PM1.74m
Low Tide
3:28PM0.25m
3:52AM0.23m
4:20PM0.25m
4:42AM0.24m
5:13PM0.25m
5:34AM0.23m
6:09PM0.23m
6:29AM0.21m
7:08PM0.21m
7:26AM0.19m
8:07PM0.18m
8:26AM0.16m
9:05PM0.15m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:30
6:28
6:26
6:26
6:24
6:22
6:20
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:46
5:46
5:47
5:49
5:50
5:51
5:52
 mm
1
3
Temp °C
15
16
13
17
19
15
17
18
14
14
15
12
15
15
16
15
11
10
14
14
12
Feels °C
13
13
10
14
16
11
12
13
10
11
12
8
11
10
12
11
5
6
11
12
11
  • 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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