Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 20ft (6.0m), 14s period, SSW swell with 13,547 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with SSE 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 (Aug 12) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 14s. 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 6.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 3AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 6AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 20ft (6.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about Blacks Reef. This is a beginner-friendly reef that breaks very consistently, likes a south swell, and the water temp is about normal for this time of year.
The start is a little slow. Wednesday morning (August 12th) gives you clean, surfable waves around 5 ft from the SSE, light breeze, but short period. The afternoon picks up a bit more energy but the wind picks up too, making it marginal.
Thursday the 13th is clean but small—offshore winds, waves around 3 ft and 3 ft from the SE. Low energy. Friday morning is tiny (2 ft), but Friday afternoon gets interesting: 5 ft from the east, gentle offshore wind, clean conditions. Short period, but fun.
Saturday the 15th morning is the first real standout. Glassy, dead calm wind, 6 ft easterly swell, 8-second period, and energy at 421. The surface will be perfect. That afternoon gets a little cross-on, but the morning is the session.
Sunday the 16th turns ugly—strong onshore winds, big sloppy swell (10 ft to 12 ft). This continues through Monday and Tuesday. Big, blown out, messy.
Wednesday the 19th brings a massive 18 ft south swell with a 16-second period and insane energy (13,951). But it’s blown out and huge—only for the brave. Thursday the 20th is still too big (12 ft).
Now, Saturday the 22nd is the real winner. The swell drops to 7 ft from the south, 12-second period, cross-off winds, clean conditions. Energy is strong (1,518). This is when Blacks Reef will be firing—clean, lined-up, excellent for experienced surfers. Sunday the 23rd is also very good: 6 ft, glassy in the morning, clean cross-off in the afternoon.
The last week has some nice small, clean days too—Tuesday the 25th and Wednesday the 26th both offer clean, glassy waves with small swell and long periods (11-14 seconds). That long period will make for nice, lined-up waves on the reef, even with the small size.
Overall, Saturday August 22nd is the best session—clean, solid 7 ft south swell, cross-off wind, and that reef will be working beautifully. The Saturday the 15th morning is a close second. The first week has some wind and swell chaos, but the second week cleans up nicely, especially that Saturday.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Very mild (max 14°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Wed afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 14°C on Sat morning, min 7°C on Sun night). Winds increasing (light winds from the W on Sat morning, strong winds from the SSW by Sat night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 245 | 416 | 242 | 155 | 97 | 78 | 51 | 96 | 210 | 381 | 298 | 402 | 2202 | 2823 | 2806 | 2033 | 1532 | 1780 | 2362 | 2668 | 4696 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 4:56PM1.86m | 5:26AM1.71m | 5:54PM1.87m | 6:24AM1.72m | 6:49PM1.87m | 7:19AM1.73m | 7:41PM1.84m | 8:11AM1.75m | 8:31PM1.81m | 9:00AM1.76m | 9:21PM1.76m | 9:46AM1.75m | 10:10PM1.71m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:43AM0.10m | 11:18PM0.11m | 11:39AM0.06m | 00:16AM0.09m | 12:32PM0.05m | 1:11AM0.09m | 1:24PM0.08m | 2:02AM0.11m | 2:17PM0.13m | 2:51AM0.16m | 3:09PM0.20m | 3:39AM0.22m | 4:01PM0.28m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | | | |
 | 7:00 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — |
 | — | 5:28 | — | — | 5:29 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:30 | — | — | 5:31 | — | — | 5:32 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
Feels °C | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 2 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | ENE 6 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 16 | E 9 | SE 13 | SE 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 245 | 416 | 242 | 155 | 97 | 78 | 192 | 96 | 210 | 381 | 298 | 159 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 16 | 254 | 15 | 511 | 503 | 3538 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 14 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | ESE 14 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | SE 12 | ESE 13 | S 18 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ENE 9 | SE 16 | ENE 8 | — | SE 12 | E 10 | E 10 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 8 | 39 | 52 | 28 | 42 | 18 | 51 | 91 | 39 | 17 | 60 | 84 | 39 | 29 | 10 | 14 | — | 403 | 7 | 8 | 183 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | E 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 16 | ESE 7 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | S 19 | ESE 13 | SSW 16 | ESE 12 | ESE 8 | SE 16 | — | — | E 10 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 6 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 10 | 17 | 8 | 28 | 17 | 144 | 14 | 49 | 10 | — | — | 30 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | ENE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NE 7 | NE 7 | NE 8 | — | — | SSW 16 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 |
| kJ | 6 | 13 | 20 | 20 | 29 | 128 | 341 | 206 | 276 | — | — | 402 | 2202 | 2823 | 2806 | 2033 | 1532 | 1780 | 2362 | 2668 | 4696 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 79 | 139 | 91 | 94 | 89 | 91 | 79 | 62 | 169 | 62 |
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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