Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 20 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: Tuesday 21 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 18s period, S swell with 4,586 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 2.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) 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 1.0m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (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 | 12AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming our way for Blacks Reef over the next couple of weeks.
Right now, we’ve got some solid size rolling in, but the conditions are a bit of a mixed bag. The water is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget a good hood if you’re heading out.
The real standout window opens up on Tuesday, July 21st. Monday afternoon is a bit of a write-off with onshore wind, but Tuesday morning is still cleaning up. The true gem is Tuesday afternoon: the wind goes glassy (SE 3 mph), the swell is a clean 7 ft from the south with a 15-second period—proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is pumping at 1796 (moderate-strong), and for a spot like this, that’s a recipe for some lined-up, powerful waves. It’s an exposed reef break, so it handles that long-period south swell well. Keep in mind, this break is very consistent, but it often gets crowded, so get in early.
Wednesday the 22nd drops off quickly, with smaller 4 ft swell and a shorter 12-second period. The energy drops to 529, and conditions are just okay. Thursday the 23rd has a tiny, clean 3 ft south swell (235 energy) with offshore N 6 mph wind in the morning, but it’s really only for the log or a longboard.
Then we hit a dry spell. From Friday the 24th through the end of July, we’ve got a long stretch of really poor or marginal surf. Friday has tiny 1 ft to 1 ft waves, and then from July 25th to the 30th, we get a messy wind swell with onshore and cross-shore winds creating chop. There’s a pulse of 8 ft to 10 ft south-west swell during that time (energy values from 442 up to 1644), but it’s accompanied by strong winds—15 to 25 mph—making it a choppy, blown-out mess. Honestly, that setup on July 25th and 26th looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.
Early August starts with a bit of hope. On Tuesday, August 4th, we get a late call that looks promising. The morning shows a clean 5 ft south swell with a long 15-second period (1141 energy) and a light offshore N 9 mph wind. This one is *excellent for experienced surfers* and will likely offer some of the cleanest, most powerful lines of the whole run. It’s a solid dawn patrol option, but being so far out, just keep an eye on it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri afternoon, min 7°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the SW by Sat morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 10 | S 10 | SSW 9 | SE 11 | SW 6 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | ESE 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 3752 | 4586 | 2609 | 1699 | 905 | 501 | 342 | 395 | 202 | 73 | 34 | 30 | 16 | 19 | 401 | 708 | 234 | 393 | 1162 | 465 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | on |
High Tide | 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 | 3:22PM1.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 9:04AM0.48m | 9:37PM0.50m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — |
 | 5:07 | — | — | 5:08 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:10 | — | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — |
mm | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 19 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | ENE 4 | S 10 | NE 5 | NE 6 | ENE 10 | E 10 | S 8 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SSE 8 |
| kJ | 3752 | 4586 | 2609 | 1699 | 905 | 501 | 342 | 395 | 202 | 73 | 8 | 30 | 7 | 64 | 36 | 50 | 234 | 362 | 379 | 264 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 12 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SE 10 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | SSW 10 | ENE 6 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SE 13 | SE 17 | SE 16 | E 11 | SSW 15 | ESE 13 |
| kJ | 167 | 103 | 97 | 97 | 57 | 28 | 29 | 15 | 30 | 37 | 34 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 27 | 107 | 203 | 64 | 45 | 465 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ESE 12 | S 12 | SE 11 | SSE 11 | ESE 10 | S 9 | SE 11 | SE 19 | SSW 14 | E 11 | E 10 | SW 15 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 174 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 3 | 18 | 23 | 10 | 15 | 19 | 14 | 20 | 61 | 31 | 58 | 40 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | NW 2 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | NW 4 | SW 6 | SSW 9 | NNW 3 | SSW 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 401 | 708 | 3 | 393 | 1162 | 151 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 45 | 33 | 114 | 0 | 3 | 79 | 89 |
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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