Blacks Reef surf break

Blacks Reef surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 5 pm Wednesday 13 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
15.6° 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 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (May 14) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 5s period and expected on Monday (May 18) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Tue 19th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Best Surf12AM (Tue 19th May)3.5ft (1.1m) 9s
Most Powerful12AM (Thu 14th May)10ft (3.0m) 14s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
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
2
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
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)
3
S
14
3
S
14
2.4
S
13
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
10
1.6
S
9
2
S
15
1.8
S
14
1.7
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.5
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.4
S
11
1.5
SSE
10
1.4
SSE
6
1.2
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
0.7
S
10
0.8
S
9
0.7
S
9
0.6
SSE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
3267
3020
1879
1248
663
417
1865
1210
932
735
594
476
442
424
146
222
194
87
108
78
53
Wind (km/h)
30
SSW
20
S
15
S
20
SSW
20
SW
15
SW
15
SSW
15
SSW
20
SW
20
SSW
15
SSW
10
SSE
15
SSE
15
SSE
10
SSE
10
SSE
5
E
5
SE
10
SSE
5
N
5
WNW
on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
cross
cross-on
glassy
glassy
High Tide
2:42AM1.60m
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
Low Tide
8:29PM0.34m
8:55AM0.29m
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
light rain
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
light rain
light rain
light rain
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:05
7:05
7:07
7:07
7:07
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:06
5:05
5:04
5:02
5:01
5:01
5:00
1
3
1
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
3
2
3
5
1
Temp °C
13
13
13
13
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
13
14
13
11
13
7
9
10
9
8
9
9
9
8
8
9
11
10
9
12
12
12
12
11
10
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
E
9
0.4
E
9
2.4
S
13
0.5
S
17
0.4
E
9
0.8
S
17
2
S
15
1.8
S
14
0.5
E
11
0.5
E
11
1.5
S
12
1.4
S
11
0.4
E
10
0.4
S
17
1.4
SSE
6
1.2
SSE
9
1.1
SSE
9
1
SE
6
0.8
S
9
0.7
S
9
0.6
SSE
8
Energy kJ
42
27
1879
145
25
380
1865
1210
56
55
594
476
31
93
146
222
194
74
108
78
53
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSW
24
0.5
E
9
0.6
S
18
0.4
E
9
0.5
ENE
9
0.4
E
9
0.4
E
10
0.5
E
11
0.5
S
16
0.4
S
16
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
0.2
S
21
0.4
E
10
0.4
E
9
0.4
E
9
0.3
E
10
0.7
S
10
0.8
ESE
6
0.6
E
5
0.4
ENE
5
Energy kJ
109
44
226
26
47
28
30
56
129
81
53
49
36
30
28
27
17
87
36
20
9
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SE
16
0.1
SE
15
0.4
E
9
0.3
SSW
13
0.1
S
23
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
23
0.1
SW
18
0.1
E
15
0.4
S
15
0.2
S
14
0.1
SE
14
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
10
0.3
E
9
0.3
SSE
10
Energy kJ
10
8
26
35
10
8
11
12
4
72
16
8
17
16
15
20
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
S
14
3
S
14
2.1
S
12
1.8
S
10
1.6
S
9
1.7
S
13
1.6
S
12
1.4
S
11
1.5
SSE
10
Energy kJ
3267
3020
1248
663
417
932
735
442
424
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
4
1
4
3
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Distance (km)
157
79
14
157
14
14
12
9
9
9
3
6
99
73
73
6
0
6
6
0
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
1
4
1
1
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
9
7
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
8
9
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
7
4
5
5
4
6
4
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)
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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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