Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.2° C
1.5° 

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 19 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 21 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 13s period, S swell with 1,890 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s 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 Friday (Aug 21) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 9s. 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 2.3m 13s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 21st Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 8s
Best Surf 9AM (Fri 21st Aug)6ft (1.8m) 16s
Most Powerful 9AM (Thu 20th Aug)7.5ft (2.3m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s lined up for our local stretch over the next couple of weeks. It’s a mixed bag with a clear standout window if you time it right.

We’ve got a solid pulse of southerly groundswell coming in, but it’s going to take a few days to clean up. The water’s sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year – nothing crazy, but you’ll want a decent wetsuit.

The real action kicks off on Thursday, August 21st. That’s the morning to circle. We’re looking at a clean, glassy start with the wind swinging northerly and light as a feather, maybe 3 mph. The swell is a solid 5 ft from the south, with a long 13-second period – proper groundswell energy. This is Blacks Reef, and for experienced surfers, it’s going to be excellent. Waves will be holding shape with that long period, and it’s a reef setup so the lines should be good. The combined energy is strong at 1263. The crowd factor is “often,” so don’t expect to have it to yourself, but for that quality, it’s worth sharing.

Friday morning holds up too, with a touch more size at 6 ft from the south and a very long 16-second period. Winds are light easterly, keeping it clean, and the energy jumps to 1504. Still a cracker for those who can handle it.

After that, the swell starts to back off. Saturday, August 22nd, has some small clean waves, 4 ft in the morning and dropping to 4 ft by afternoon with glassy conditions – ideal for a longboard or a funboard session, but nothing to get too excited about.

From Sunday into the middle of the following week, it goes quiet. We’ve got a few days of small, weak swell and onshore winds. There’s a gap there with nothing worth paddling out for until Thursday, August 28th. That day, the south swell bumps back up to 4 ft with a 16-second period, and we get moderate offshore winds from the north-northeast. The energy reads 687 – a moderate, punchy pulse. Friday is similar, slightly smaller but still clean with offshore wind. That’s your second-week window, but it’s a bit less certain looking that far out.

The tail end of the period, from August 30th into September, looks grim. Southerly winds crank up to 18-22 mph, rain, and messy onshore conditions. The swell tries to build again, but with that wind, it’s a no-go for paddling – might get the kitesurfers stoked, but not us.

So, the standout is clear: Thursday, August 21st through Friday, August 22nd at Blacks Reef. Clean, solid groundswell, the right wind, and the reef will do its thing. For the second week, keep an eye on Friday, August 28th – promising, but don’t book the day off work just yet.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 8°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
3
4
4
3
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
1
1
1
1
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
S
13
1.9
S
8
1.7
S
8
1.8
S
16
1.7
S
16
1.4
S
13
1.2
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.4
SE
13
0.4
SE
13
0.4
SE
13
0.6
S
17
1.7
S
13
1.2
S
13
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.5
S
16
0.5
S
15
0.4
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1890
489
400
1672
1402
649
403
319
189
100
48
44
44
205
971
483
359
198
135
115
64
Wind (km/h)
25
SW
15
SSW
5
W
5
NW
10
E
10
NNW
10
NNW
5
WNW
25
WNW
25
NW
25
NW
20
W
5
WNW
15
ENE
15
NNW
15
WNW
10
W
20
NW
15
NW
10
WNW
15
WNW
Wind State
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
High Tide
11:22AM1.67m
11:48PM1.62m
12:14PM1.62m
00:35AM1.57m
1:06PM1.58m
1:22AM1.51m
1:56PM1.54m
2:10AM1.45m
2:43PM1.52m
2:58AM1.40m
3:28PM1.49m
3:46AM1.38m
4:13PM1.49m
Low Tide
5:41PM0.40m
6:03AM0.41m
6:30PM0.44m
6:49AM0.45m
7:20PM0.47m
7:35AM0.46m
8:10PM0.48m
8:23AM0.46m
8:57PM0.47m
9:11AM0.44m
9:43PM0.43m
10:00AM0.41m
10:29PM0.39m
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:38
5:39
 mm
Temp °C
11
11
9
12
13
10
14
16
14
16
16
13
13
13
11
15
17
13
18
19
17
Feels °C
5
7
7
11
10
7
11
14
9
10
11
8
10
8
7
11
14
9
16
17
14
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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