Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.7° 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 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 27 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 16ft (5.0m), 12s period, S swell with 6,698 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 21 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 15s 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 5.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) 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 0.7m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 23) at 6PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3PM (Tue 21st Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s
Best Surf 3PM (Tue 21st Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 27th Jul)16ft (5.0m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down in feet and miles per hour.

Only one spot is talking to us: Blacks Reef. It’s a reef break, fires up all the time, and loves a south swell. Water temp is about normal for the season.

First surf hits Monday morning, July 20th. We’re looking at a 6ft south swell with a 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell. Wind is light from the SSW, so it’s manageable. The energy is moderate (2018). By the afternoon, the swell is pushing 8ft from the south with a very long 19-second period, and the energy jumps to 4093. That’s a lot of water, but the wind is onshore with light rain. It’s a raw one.

Tuesday, July 21st is where the magic happens. The morning has a 8ft south swell (16s, 2706 energy) but the wind is cross-on from the west. Then the afternoon. The swell drops to 7ft, still from the south, with a 15-second period (1796 energy). And the wind goes glassy. Dead flat. That’s the cleanest window of the first week. The south swell and glassy conditions will have Blacks Reef looking like a postcard.

Wednesday, July 22nd keeps the glassy, clean vibe in the morning with a 4ft south swell and a 12-second period (540 energy). That’s a fun, easy wave.

From the afternoon of Wednesday the 22nd through Saturday the 25th, the surf fades out. The swell drops, the wind gets messy, and the energy numbers fall off. It’s a quiet few days.

Then the ocean gets angry. Sunday, July 26th through Tuesday, July 28th, the swell jumps to 10ft, 13ft, and even 16ft, but the wind is a gale or strong breeze from the SW, straight onshore. The energy numbers are massive (1712 to 7789), but it’s a mess. This is for experts only, or kite surfers. It’s too big and blown out for paddle surfing.

Wednesday, July 29th is the second standout. The wind turns to a light NW cross-offshore. We’ve got a 8ft southeast swell, with a 12-second period, and strong energy (2284). Both the morning and afternoon are clean and powerful. This is a proper, heavy session for the experienced crew.

Thursday, July 30th is a nice, clean drop-off. The swell goes from 6ft to 5ft, with glassy wind in the afternoon.

Things get small again through the end of July. Sunday, August 2nd brings a decent session. The morning has a 5ft SSW swell (12s, 859 energy) with a light NW cross-offshore, and the afternoon goes glassy and clean with a 6ft SSW swell (923 energy). A solid, clean day.

The run ends on Monday, August 3rd and Tuesday, August 4th with another pulse of big, stormy, onshore wind. The swell is 12ft to 13ft, but the wind is howling. Too big and messy.

So, the best on offer: Tuesday afternoon, July 21st for that glassy 7ft south swell, and Wednesday, July 29th for the big, clean 8ft southeast swell. Those are the ones.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Sun night, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 7°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (calm on Wed night, fresh winds from the W by Sat morning).

Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
2
3
3
3
4
3
3
1
2
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
S
16
1.8
S
15
2.3
S
19
2.5
S
18
2.3
S
16
2
S
15
1.6
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.8
S
11
0.5
S
12
0.4
SSW
10
0.3
S
10
0.6
E
9
0.8
E
10
0.9
E
11
0.9
ESE
11
0.6
SE
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1452
1415
3752
4586
2609
1699
905
501
342
371
166
75
35
17
58
138
188
191
158
Wind (km/h)
15
SSW
10
SSW
15
SSW
10
S
10
W
5
S
10
NNW
5
NW
5
ESE
5
NW
5
NNE
15
NE
10
NNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
15
NNW
35
W
15
WSW
25
NE
Wind State
on
on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
off
High Tide
9:50PM1.81m
10:17AM1.72m
10:42PM1.74m
11:07AM1.68m
11:33PM1.68m
11:59AM1.65m
00:24AM1.62m
12:54PM1.62m
1:14AM1.58m
1:46PM1.61m
2:03AM1.55m
2:36PM1.59m
2:51AM1.51m
Low Tide
4:12AM0.14m
4:30PM0.21m
5:02AM0.20m
5:23PM0.29m
5:51AM0.28m
6:15PM0.36m
6:39AM0.36m
7:08PM0.42m
7:27AM0.42m
8:00PM0.47m
8:15AM0.47m
8:50PM0.50m
cloud
cloud
light rain
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:18
7:18
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:08
5:09
5:10
5:10
5:12
 mm
2
1
Temp °C
12
11
10
10
10
10
8
11
11
9
12
13
10
15
14
13
11
12
11
Feels °C
9
7
6
6
7
8
6
9
8
7
9
10
6
11
10
10
4
7
6
  • 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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