Blacks Reef surf break

Blacks Reef surfForecast / Gisborne and Mahia / New Zealand

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 11 am Thursday 21 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
15.1° C
(Which is 1.1°C colder than average for this time of year)

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 Saturday (May 23) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 10s period. 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 2.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 25) at 6AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 10s period and expected on Sunday (May 24) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Sat 23rd May)1.5ft (0.5m) 10s
Best Surf 9AM (Mon 25th May)6.5ft (2.0m) 19s
Most Powerful 6AM (Mon 25th May)7ft (2.1m) 18s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Tue morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
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
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
4
4
5
3
4
3
3
3
2
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSE
7
0.3
SSE
9
0.2
S
12
0.3
S
11
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
SSE
10
0.6
S
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.8
S
12
1.1
S
16
1.5
S
15
1.8
S
18
2
S
19
1.9
S
15
1.7
S
14
1.6
S
13
1.4
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.2
S
11
0.8
S
16
1.4
S
18
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
10
15
11
21
33
31
125
282
177
635
997
2042
2750
1683
1147
875
653
485
367
325
1231
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
10
NNE
10
NW
5
W
10
ENE
10
NNW
5
W
5
SSW
10
W
10
W
0
SE
10
ENE
10
NE
15
NE
15
N
5
NNW
5
S
5
WSW
0
NW
10
E
5
N
cross-off
off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
cross
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
glassy
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-off
glassy
High Tide
9:18AM1.80m
9:41PM1.91m
10:13AM1.75m
10:38PM1.84m
11:07AM1.68m
11:36PM1.75m
12:03PM1.61m
00:31AM1.68m
1:00PM1.56m
1:24AM1.61m
1:57PM1.54m
2:16AM1.56m
2:51PM1.55m
Low Tide
3:26PM0.08m
4:06AM0.07m
4:23PM0.08m
5:02AM0.08m
5:19PM0.11m
5:58AM0.11m
6:15PM0.17m
6:51AM0.15m
7:10PM0.24m
7:42AM0.22m
8:07PM0.31m
8:31AM0.29m
9:03PM0.37m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:09
7:11
7:11
7:11
7:13
7:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:00
5:00
4:59
4:58
4:58
4:57
4:57
1
Temp °C
15
18
14
15
15
13
14
15
12
12
13
13
14
14
12
15
15
13
15
16
15
13
16
11
14
13
11
12
13
11
10
13
11
11
11
9
14
14
12
14
14
15
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
4
0.3
SSE
9
0.5
NE
5
0.4
NE
8
0.4
SSE
10
0.4
NE
4
0.6
S
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.8
S
12
1.1
S
16
1.5
S
15
1.8
S
18
2
S
19
1.9
S
15
1.7
S
14
1.6
S
13
1.4
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.2
S
11
1
S
11
1.4
S
14
Energy kJ
5
15
13
17
33
6
125
282
177
635
997
2042
2750
1683
1147
875
653
485
367
242
779
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSE
7
0.1
SE
12
0.2
S
12
0.3
S
11
0.4
NE
7
0.4
SSE
10
0.6
S
9
0.6
ENE
10
0.8
ENE
9
0.8
ENE
11
0.9
ENE
10
1
E
10
0.8
ENE
10
0.7
E
10
0.9
ENE
10
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.6
E
10
0.8
S
16
1.4
S
18
Energy kJ
10
6
11
21
13
31
60
78
94
150
177
208
128
94
148
71
75
80
80
325
1231
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
E
8
0.1
E
9
0.2
SSE
9
0.2
SSE
8
0.2
ENE
9
0.4
ENE
10
0.5
ENE
10
0.2
SSE
9
0.3
ENE
12
0.1
E
11
1.2
ENE
10
1
S
19
0.5
S
20
0.4
SSE
18
0.8
ENE
10
0.7
ENE
10
0.1
NE
10
0.5
E
10
0.5
E
10
Energy kJ
6
1
8
7
7
38
60
8
30
2
272
738
186
104
133
95
4
54
51
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
NE
4
0.7
NE
4
0.3
SW
2
0.9
SE
4
0.6
ENE
3
0.8
NNE
4
0.4
NNE
3
0.3
SSW
4
0.3
SSW
3
Energy kJ
7
18
1
29
7
22
3
2
2
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
5
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
3
Distance (km)
156
156
16
10
55
55
0
3
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
3
3
4
5
4
4
4
3
3
3
2
3
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
4
4
4
4
5
4
9
6
5
5
5
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
7
6
5
5
9
6
5
5
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
5
  • 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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