Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 7s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, SSW swell with 1,465 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period with SSW 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 (Sep 06) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 10s period. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, lookin’ at the same forecast for Blacks Reef but in feet and degrees.
So, things start off slow. The first few days are weak. Sunday the 6th has a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a light cross-off, but the energy is low (127) and it’s just not worth it. Monday and Tuesday are worse – onshore winds and building but messy swell. Wednesday the 9th morning is the first decent one: a 5ft SE swell with a clean offshore from the NNE. Energy is moderate (322) and it’s clean. That’s a session for the early birds.
Then we hit a rough patch from Thursday the 10th through Saturday the 12th – poor conditions, strong onshore winds, and lumpy chop. The swell is there but the wind kills it. Sunday the 13th is a big red flag: a solid 10ft S groundswell (period 12 seconds) but with a fresh cross-shore wind making it lumpy. The energy is massive (2579) but it’s not clean. If you’re kite surfing, this is your window. For paddle surfing, it’s a mess.
Now, here’s the one. Monday the 14th is a true standout. We’ve got a big 12ft S groundswell with a very long period of 13 seconds. The energy is enormous (4509). The wind? In the morning it’s a light cross-shore, but in the afternoon it goes completely glassy with a slight air from the SE. This is a reef break, so that long-period groundswell will set up beautifully. But at 12ft, this is expert-only territory. This is for the chargers who know the reef. Beginners stay away. Water temp is about average for this time of year.
Tuesday the 15th is also excellent. The swell drops to a still-chunky 7ft S (12 seconds) in the morning, then 6ft in the afternoon. The wind is light and offshore/cross-off, keeping it clean. The energy is strong (1193 and 924). This is the best session for the bigger crew who aren’t after the max size. Experienced surfers will love it.
After that, the swell fades through the rest of the week. Wednesday the 16th and into the weekend have some cleaner 5ft to 5ft S swell, but the wind gets a bit cross-shore. The energy drops to moderate (570-603). Then by Thursday the 17th, a strong onshore breeze ruins it again. Friday the 18th has a 8ft S swell but with a cross-shore wind, so it’s marginal. Sunday the 20th has a cleaner 5ft S swell with a light offshore from the E, which is a nice little finisher. And on Monday the 21st, we get a glassy morning with a 4ft S swell – calm and clean, a nice way to end the run.
Crowds at Blacks Reef are often around, so expect company on the good days.
Best on offer:
If you’re an expert, Monday the 14th is the absolute standout. For the rest of the strong crew, Tuesday the 15th is the one to circle.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 18 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 6 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | S 6 | S 7 | S 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 92 | 100 | 104 | 147 | 46 | 281 | 727 | 414 | 269 | 304 | 262 | 176 | 135 | 53 | 30 | 67 | 367 | 366 | 169 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | 4:12AM1.62m | 4:37PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.63m | 5:33PM1.75m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | 7:26AM0.19m | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | 11:19AM0.11m | 11:53PM0.14m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Feels °C | 8 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 10 | S 8 | S 17 | SSW 11 | NE 6 | S 15 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SSW 14 | ENE 13 | S 19 | S 7 |
| kJ | 92 | 100 | 37 | 147 | 38 | 11 | 18 | 414 | 269 | 304 | 262 | 176 | 135 | 53 | 30 | 67 | 34 | 182 | 111 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 18 | SSW 18 | E 10 | S 16 | ENE 8 | SSW 15 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | NE 8 | SE 7 | NE 9 | SSW 14 | S 18 |
| kJ | 78 | 25 | 104 | 2 | 46 | 7 | 43 | 50 | 51 | 63 | 56 | 36 | 22 | 21 | 28 | 14 | 21 | 39 | 169 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | E 10 | E 10 | — | E 10 | SSW 16 | E 10 | S 15 | S 15 | E 15 | E 15 | E 15 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | S 8 | NE 7 | NE 13 | ENE 13 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 2 | 48 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 12 | 11 | 27 | 17 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | N 3 | NNW 2 | N 4 | NNE 5 | SSW 6 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | NE 5 | NNW 3 | NE 7 | SSW 4 | S 6 | S 7 | NW 2 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 41 | 281 | 727 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 25 | 4 | 43 | 8 | 367 | 366 | 1 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 103 | 89 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 73 | 41 | 41 |
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.
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