Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Issued: 11 pm 05 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
13.2° C

1.2°C colder than average for this time of year

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 5 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 6 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, E swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 11s period, S swell with 5,410 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 6 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 9s period with E 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 Monday (Jul 06) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. 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 5.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.9m 9s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Mon 6th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 9s
Best Surf 6PM (Mon 6th Jul)5.5ft (1.7m) 9s
Most Powerful 6PM (Fri 10th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 11s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the next couple of weeks at Blacks Reef.

We’re kicking off Monday, July 6th, and the early window is actually pretty decent. Monday morning you’ve got a clean 5ft easterly swell with a gentle offshore breeze from the NE – that’s gonna be glassy and fun for the early bird. The energy is moderate at 317, so nothing heavy, but it’s a solid entry point for the week.

The pattern gets a bit messy from Monday afternoon right through to the end of Sunday, July 12th. Winds turn cross-shore or onshore, and the swell jumps up. Wednesday morning July 8th sees a 7ft ESE pulse with an 11-second period and moderate wave energy (1180), but the cross-shore wind will put bumps on it. By Thursday July 9th, it gets bigger and uglier – 8ft to 13ft southerly swell by Friday with strong, fresh onshore winds and energy readings in the thousands. That’s blown-out, lumpy and only for the hardcore if they’re desperate. Honestly, from Monday afternoon through Sunday, it’s a write-off for clean surfing.

Then we get a nice reset. Monday July 13th is still a bit cross-onshore, but by Tuesday July 14th, things clean right up. Tuesday afternoon is the standout: a clean 5ft SE swell with a moderate offshore NE wind at 12 mph, and the period stretches to 12 seconds – proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate at 592. That’s going to be clean, lined-up, and far more enjoyable than the chaos before it. Wednesday July 15th keeps the good trend going: 5ft SE swell, 10 to 11-second period, gentle to moderate offshore NE winds, and clean surf. Energy sits around 570 to 603. That Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning are the best bets in the whole outlook.

From Thursday July 16th, the swell starts to fade. You’ve got 4ft on Thursday morning, still offshore and clean, but dropping. By Friday and into the weekend, it’s small – under 3ft – and winds pick up, making it marginal at best. There’s a glimpse of something on Sunday July 19th with a 5ft southerly and a very short period of 5 to 6 seconds, but that’s gonna be weak and bumpy despite the offshore wind.

Overall, grab Tuesday afternoon July 14th or Wednesday morning July 15th. That’s your clean, lined-up window with offshore winds and a proper groundswell. The rest is either too windy, too big and messy, or too small.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 33mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the S on Wed night, strong winds from the S by Fri morning).

Monday
6
Tuesday
7
Wednesday
8
Thursday
9
Friday
10
Saturday
11
Sun
12
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
1
3
2
1
3
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
E
10
1.4
E
9
1.7
E
9
1.7
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.6
E
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
11
1.9
ESE
10
1.7
ESE
10
2.5
S
9
4
S
11
4.5
SSE
10
4.5
S
10
5
S
11
4.5
S
10
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
2.5
SE
10
2.4
SE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
268
304
463
476
427
470
855
1022
746
540
1243
3450
4653
4628
5299
4521
3046
2414
1814
1286
1126
Wind (km/h)
10
N
15
NE
5
SE
10
NNW
5
W
10
SW
10
W
10
W
10
SW
15
S
20
S
30
SSE
40
S
45
S
40
SSW
35
SSW
30
S
30
S
25
S
25
SSW
20
SSW
Wind State
off
off
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
High Tide
9:44PM1.57m
10:05AM1.50m
10:30PM1.58m
10:48AM1.53m
11:16PM1.60m
11:34AM1.57m
00:04AM1.63m
12:26PM1.63m
00:54AM1.67m
1:22PM1.70m
1:49AM1.70m
2:19PM1.77m
2:46AM1.73m
3:16PM1.84m
Low Tide
4:02AM0.31m
4:14PM0.35m
4:46AM0.31m
5:01PM0.35m
5:32AM0.31m
5:49PM0.35m
6:18AM0.31m
6:42PM0.36m
7:07AM0.30m
7:39PM0.34m
8:00AM0.29m
8:39PM0.30m
8:58AM0.26m
clear
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
rain showers
light rain
mod rain
light rain
cloud
light rain
light rain
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:28
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
7:26
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
4:59
4:59
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:01
5:01
 mm
8
8
7
4
4
8
2
4
2
2
2
1
Temp °C
11
15
11
12
11
11
10
11
12
12
13
13
12
11
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
Feels °C
9
12
7
9
9
8
8
9
10
10
9
7
5
2
1
2
3
3
4
4
4
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
E
10
0.1
S
14
1.7
E
9
1.7
E
9
1.6
E
9
1.6
E
10
2.1
ESE
10
2.2
ESE
11
1.9
ESE
10
1.7
ESE
10
1.4
ESE
10
3
S
11
1.6
E
10
0.2
S
21
0.3
SSW
20
0.5
S
18
2.5
SE
10
0.6
S
15
Energy kJ
268
4
463
476
427
470
855
1022
746
540
356
2308
480
35
78
160
1286
161
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
16
0.1
S
22
0.2
S
20
0.4
SSW
18
0.5
SSW
10
0.6
SSW
10
0.6
SSW
10
0.6
S
9
0.8
SSW
8
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
16
1.4
ESE
10
0.2
SSW
21
0.3
SSW
20
0.5
S
14
0.6
S
16
Energy kJ
5
9
31
108
59
78
74
54
85
34
53
356
44
78
106
188
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
13
0.2
SSW
12
0.4
SSW
17
0.4
SSW
16
0.4
SSW
16
0.5
S
14
0.5
S
13
0.2
S
18
0.4
SSW
18
Energy kJ
5
3
14
97
86
81
104
92
26
108
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1
NE
7
1.4
E
9
1.6
NE
8
0.2
WSW
2
2
S
8
2.5
S
9
4
S
11
4.5
SSE
10
4.5
S
10
5
S
11
4.5
S
10
4
SSE
10
3.5
SSE
10
3
SSE
10
0.8
SSW
8
2.4
SE
10
Energy kJ
85
304
367
1
509
1243
3450
4653
4628
5299
4521
3046
2414
1814
67
1126
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
3
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
1
1
1
3
3
1
3
3
2
Distance (km)
0
0
2
0
3
3
3
3
3
14
14
99
157
157
318
91
91
162
79
79
88
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
2
2
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
5
6
4
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
6
7
5
5
4
6
5
4
4
5
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
6
5
8
7
5
5
9
8
9
6
7
8
8
6
9
6
4
9
7
7
  • 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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