Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 26 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 1 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 8s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 23ft (7.0m), 14s period, S swell with 18,331 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 13s period with SE 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 (Jul 29) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. 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 7.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.1m 8s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6ft (1.9m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 12PM (Sat 1st Aug) | 13ft (4.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sun 2nd Aug) | 23ft (7.0m) 14s |
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. This is Blacks Reef, and honestly, the next 16 days are a mixed bag. We’ve got some real potential, but also some proper ugly spells you’ll want to dodge.
First up, the start is pretty rough. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are messy – onshore and choppy with nothing to get excited about. Wave energy is high but it’s blown out trash.
Come Wednesday the 29th, things flip. It’s a standout. The morning will see around 6ft, coming from the southeast, with a clean cross-off breeze and a solid 13-second period. Wave energy is strong at 1189. This is proper surf. The afternoon isn’t as good but still clean.
Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st drop off in size, with waist-to-chest high leftovers, still clean but not much push. Good for a grovel, nothing more.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday the 1st of August – the morning looks small with a weird SSW swell, but the afternoon is a monster. We’re looking at 15ft from the south, but the catch is this swell is too big for Blacks Reef. The combined energy is massive at 3785, but this isn’t a spot built for that kind of size. If you’re an expert and know the ledge, it could be on, but don’t send the groms.
Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd are a total write-off – stormy, massive, and dangerous, with howling southerly winds. Combined energy hits 11484 on Sunday afternoon. Stay out of the water. Tuesday the 4th is still too big, 10ft and onshore.
By Wednesday the 5th, things settle a bit. Still solid, chest to head high, but the wind is light and cross-onshore. Not perfect, but getting there. Wave energy is still strong.
Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th drop right away, tiny and weak. But Saturday the 8th is nothing special.
Then the real standout appears – Sunday the 9th of August. Morning glass, 4-5ft south swell at 14 seconds, combined energy 1454. Light offshore or even glassy – this is going to be clean, lined-up, and beautiful. Afternoon picks up to 8ft from the east, shorter period, still clean. This is your best session of the whole run, especially the morning.
Monday the 10th continues the run with 10ft at 9 seconds, glassy and clean, but this is getting big for the reef. Best left to experienced crew. Tuesday the 11th pushes even bigger and could be on the edge of what Blacks Reef can handle cleanly.
Water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing wild.
Overall, if you pick your days, there’s some epic windows here. Wednesday the 29th and Sunday the 9th are the two to circle. The rest is either too small or too angry.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Wed afternoon, min 6°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon morning, light winds from the W by Tue night). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | ||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | S 9 | S 10 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | SSW 14 | S 9 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 458 | 630 | 980 | 1005 | 2278 | 1952 | 1417 | 1149 | 918 | 769 | 509 | 379 | 291 | 239 | 197 | 119 | 331 | 3593 | 4764 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on |
High Tide | 3:37AM1.48m | 4:08PM1.56m | 4:23AM1.45m | 4:53PM1.55m | 5:09AM1.43m | 5:37PM1.55m | 5:56AM1.42m | 6:22PM1.55m | 6:43AM1.44m | 7:06PM1.57m | 7:30AM1.47m | 7:50PM1.58m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:37PM0.50m | 9:53AM0.48m | 10:23PM0.49m | 10:40AM0.45m | 11:08PM0.46m | 11:24AM0.41m | 11:53PM0.41m | 12:05PM0.37m | 00:38AM0.36m | 12:47PM0.33m | 1:23AM0.32m | 1:30PM0.31m | 2:07AM0.29m | ||||||
 |  |  |  | | | |  | |  | | | |  | | | |  |  | |
 | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | 46 |
Temp °C | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Feels °C | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 1 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 7 | ESE 11 | SSW 6 | SSW 14 | SE 15 | E 16 |
| kJ | 458 | 630 | 689 | 864 | 2278 | 1952 | 1417 | 1149 | 918 | 769 | 509 | 379 | 291 | 152 | 197 | 117 | 331 | 186 | 20 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | — | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 13 | ESE 11 | NE 8 | ESE 12 | SE 16 | E 17 | E 11 |
| kJ | 37 | — | 35 | 64 | 27 | 37 | 35 | 34 | 20 | 165 | 179 | 109 | 35 | 239 | 51 | 119 | 206 | 6 | 9 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | — | — | — | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | — | S 18 | S 16 | SSW 14 | — | NE 4 | S 16 | SSW 15 | SE 15 | SE 14 | ESE 11 | ENE 17 | ENE 16 |
| kJ | 53 | — | — | — | 78 | 37 | — | 6 | 5 | 40 | — | 3 | 47 | 42 | 36 | 32 | 45 | 29 | 25 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | S 10 | SSE 8 | S 8 | — | — | — | N 3 | NNW 3 | NW 3 | NE 5 | NNE 8 | WNW 3 | — | SSW 8 | S 9 | S 10 |
| kJ | 398 | 421 | 980 | 1005 | 438 | 259 | — | — | — | 5 | 6 | 2 | 25 | 501 | 10 | — | 198 | 3593 | 4764 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 41 | 93 | 75 | 41 | 91 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 48 |
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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