
Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 12 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 18ft (5.5m), 11s period, S swell with 6,653 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 15) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 18ft (5.5m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's coming up for Blacks Reef.
This is a reef break that's exposed to the south swell, and it's a tricky one. The week ahead is mostly a write-off, with a lot of poor conditions and onshore winds. The water is sitting at 55.6°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you'll want a good suit.
The first half of the forecast is a mixed bag with a lot of messy, cross-onshore wind. We've got a big pulse of energy on Thursday the 9th and Friday the 10th, with combined swell energy readings (5090 and 6823), but it's coming from the SSE with strong southerly winds, creating terrible conditions. Pure frustration. That swell is way too big for a beginner-friendly spot like this, pushing 16.4ft to 18.0ft. Stay out of the water.
Saturday the 11th sees the swell drop to a more manageable 7.5ft from the SE, but the wind is still on it, making it a marginal call at best. Sunday the 12th is tiny, with a 2.6ft swell from the south but a long 15 second period. The energy is low (583), and the wind is cross-onshore, so not much to work with.
Things finally clean up on Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th. The swell is small, dropping from 2.6ft to 1.0ft, but we get a clean offshore wind from the NNE and NE. Combined energy is low (248 and 186), but it's glassy. These are the best on offer in the first week, but it's strictly small-wave fun on a longboard. The water will still be cold.
There's a small window on Wednesday the 15th, with a glassy morning and a tiny 1.6ft ESE swell. It's nothing to write home about, but a glassy session is a glassy session.
The real standout is a glimmer of hope later on. The swell fills in again from the SE on Saturday the 18th, hitting 6.9ft to 7.2ft with a 13-14 second period, and the combined energy is in the moderate range (1596 and 1962). The wind is light and cross-shore, so it's a bit lumpy but rideable. This is a promising window for the better surfers.
Then, the best of the whole run arrives on Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th. We have a clean 4.9ft SE swell with a 12-second period on Sunday, with light offshore NNE winds. The combined energy (941 and 845) points to moderate, powerful waves. Conditions are clean and the break is consistent. This is the pick of the 16-day window. Monday the 20th is similar, with a 3.0ft S swell and a very long 15-second period, but the wind is light offshore or glassy. Stay on the reef or point for that long-period groundswell.
The second week is a bit of a roll of the dice. Tuesday the 21st brings a bigger 9.8ft E swell with fresh cross-offshore winds, but the energy is high (1708). That's going to be a handful and likely too big for most. Wednesday the 22nd is messy with cross-onshore winds. Thursday the 23rd has a 6.2ft SSW swell, but it's a short period (8 seconds) and cross-shore. Friday the 24th is a no-go; the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, hitting 14.8ft to 16.4ft from the south with heavy energy (3538 and 5460), even if the wind is light.
Bottom line: The first week is a struggle. The best bet is the clean, small stuff on Monday the 13th and Tuesday the 14th. The real highlight is Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th, with clean, moderate swell from the SE. That's your window to get a proper session.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 66mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Thu night, light winds from the SW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 15 | SE 9 | S 12 | SE 9 | S 10 | SE 8 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
4570 | 6397 | 6653 | 3798 | 2519 | 1291 | 959 | 577 | 405 | 272 | 237 | 220 | 133 | 94 | 70 | 78 | 25 | 24 | 56 | 55 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:26PM1.63m | 00:54AM1.67m | 1:22PM1.70m | 1:49AM1.70m | 2:19PM1.77m | 2:46AM1.73m | 3:16PM1.84m | 3:46AM1.75m | 4:14PM1.90m | 4:46AM1.78m | 5:14PM1.94m | 5:45AM1.79m | 6:14PM1.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:42PM0.36m | 7:07AM0.30m | 7:39PM0.34m | 8:00AM0.29m | 8:39PM0.30m | 8:58AM0.26m | 9:39PM0.25m | 10:00AM0.22m | 10:38PM0.19m | 11:01AM0.15m | 11:37PM0.13m | 11:59AM0.08m | 00:36AM0.09m | ||||||||
7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | |
mm | 8 | 8 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 10 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | ESE 10 | S 16 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ENE 6 | ESE 9 |
520 | 426 | 146 | 103 | 1633 | 79 | 959 | 577 | 405 | 266 | 237 | 194 | 115 | 92 | 70 | 41 | 23 | 65 | 19 | 18 | 47 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 7 | — | — | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 12 | S 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | S 12 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 6 |
2 | — | — | 182 | 252 | 109 | 55 | 248 | 334 | 272 | 225 | 220 | 133 | 94 | 46 | 78 | 25 | 15 | 56 | 55 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | S 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 7 | S 7 | E 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | S 14 | E 11 | S 21 | SE 10 | S 9 | ESE 13 | SE 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | 121 | 48 | 35 | 33 | 45 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 33 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 2 | 17 | 37 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | S 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | — | — | — | — | NE 2 | NE 4 | NE 5 | ENE 6 | NE 6 | — | — | — |
4570 | 6397 | 6653 | 3798 | 2519 | 1291 | 70 | 102 | 51 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 16 | 41 | 104 | 143 | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 133 | 157 | 169 | 162 | 157 | 75 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










