Blacks Reef surf break

Blacks Reef surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Thursday 14 May 2026 NZST
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Blacks Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
15.7° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

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 Tuesday (May 19) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 2.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 15) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 9s period and expected on Friday (May 15) at 3AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 9AM (Tue 19th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Best Surf 9AM (Tue 19th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 10s
Most Powerful 3PM (Fri 15th May)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 9mm), mostly falling on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
0
1
1
1
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)
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
10
1.6
S
9
2
S
15
1.9
S
14
1.7
S
13
1.7
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.5
S
11
1.6
SSE
11
1.3
SSE
7
1.3
SSE
10
1.1
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
10
0.8
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.6
SSE
8
0.6
SSE
8
0.5
S
8
0.2
ESE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1248
650
417
1865
1352
917
833
675
553
531
137
289
211
197
231
117
78
57
54
29
14
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
20
SW
20
SSW
15
SSW
15
SSW
20
SW
20
SSW
15
SSW
15
SSE
20
SSE
15
S
10
SW
10
SSW
10
W
5
W
10
ESE
5
NW
5
W
10
E
10
NNW
10
N
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
glassy
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
off
High Tide
3:10PM1.60m
3:35AM1.68m
4:03PM1.71m
4:30AM1.74m
4:58PM1.82m
5:26AM1.80m
5:54PM1.91m
6:24AM1.83m
6:51PM1.97m
7:22AM1.84m
7:47PM1.99m
8:20AM1.83m
8:44PM1.97m
9:18AM1.80m
Low Tide
9:25PM0.31m
9:48AM0.27m
10:20PM0.27m
10:45AM0.24m
11:16PM0.22m
11:41AM0.21m
00:13AM0.18m
12:37PM0.16m
1:11AM0.14m
1:32PM0.13m
2:10AM0.10m
2:28PM0.09m
3:09AM0.08m
rain showers
light rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:05
7:05
7:07
7:07
7:07
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:06
5:05
5:04
5:02
5:01
5:01
5:00
5:00
1
1
2
3
2
1
Temp °C
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
12
12
12
12
13
14
12
13
14
11
15
8
8
9
9
9
8
8
8
10
9
9
10
10
11
12
13
11
13
13
9
13
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
17
0.4
E
9
0.8
S
17
2
S
15
1.9
S
14
1.7
S
13
0.6
S
15
0.5
E
10
0.4
E
10
0.4
E
10
0.8
S
10
1.3
SSE
10
1.1
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
10
0.8
S
10
0.7
S
9
0.6
SSE
8
0.6
SSE
8
0.5
S
8
0.3
SSE
6
Energy kJ
145
25
380
1865
1352
917
167
53
32
31
127
289
211
197
231
117
78
57
54
29
8
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
E
9
0.4
ENE
9
0.4
E
9
0.4
E
10
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
23
0.4
S
16
0.5
S
17
0.4
S
15
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.5
ESE
5
0.6
E
5
0.4
ENE
5
0.4
ENE
5
0.4
ENE
5
0.4
NE
7
Energy kJ
26
28
28
30
56
57
56
8
11
77
137
72
15
18
17
17
20
8
8
9
11
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSW
13
0.4
S
16
0.1
S
23
0.1
SW
20
0.2
SSW
18
0.1
S
21
0.4
E
10
0.4
E
9
0.2
S
15
0.1
SE
14
0.1
SE
13
0.3
E
9
0.3
E
9
0.3
ENE
9
0.2
E
8
0.2
E
9
0.2
ESE
12
Energy kJ
35
84
10
15
33
9
30
28
17
8
7
16
15
15
6
6
14
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
10
1.6
S
9
1.7
S
12
1.6
S
12
1.5
S
11
1.6
SSE
11
1.3
SSE
7
0.3
W
2
0.5
NE
6
Energy kJ
1248
650
417
833
675
553
531
134
1
15
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
3
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
3
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
157
41
14
12
9
9
157
14
73
157
73
3
3
3
0
2
0
0
0
10
82
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
1
1
1
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
5
5
4
7
5
5
5
4
7
4
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Blacks Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Blacks Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest