Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 17 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
13.0° C
1.2° 

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 17 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 23s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 19s period, S swell with 5,960 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s 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 Saturday (Jul 18) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 13s. 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 3.0m 19s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 22) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Sat 18th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 18th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 23s
Most Powerful 9PM (Mon 20th Jul)10ft (3.0m) 19s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Blacks Reef over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a solid run of swell arriving, but it’s a mixed bag with the wind. The standout period is shaping up for Tuesday the 21st of July. That morning we’re looking at a clean 8ft S swell with a very long 16 second period – that’s proper groundswell energy – and the wind is dead glassy out of the WSW. The combined energy is pumping at (2957), so there’s plenty of power. This is excellent surf, but at that size and with that period, it’s going to be a lot for beginners. The reef setup should handle that long period well, though. The afternoon holds clean 7ft S swell too, at 15 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze. The crowds are often around here, so expect some company for these waves.

The run-up to that is solid. Saturday the 18th has a bit of a messy cross-shore wind, but we’ve got 5ft SE swell and energy (1360). Sunday the 19th morning builds to a clean 7ft S swell with 18-second period and energy (3233), and a light cross-shore breeze. That’s a good session. Monday the 20th is onshore and rainy, but the swell is still solid at 8ft S with 19-second period and energy (4512) – a real powerhouse, but the wind kills it.

After Tuesday the 21st, it tapers off. Wednesday the 22nd is still fun with clean 4ft S swell on the morning, and glassy conditions in the afternoon, but it’s smaller. Thursday the 23rd is a fade to 2ft S swell, not much to write home about.

Then we hit a real rough patch. From Friday the 24th of July through to the end of the month, the wind goes nasty. Friday the 24th is small and weak. Saturday the 25th has a 5ft S swell but with a strong, choppy cross-on shore – that’s a write-off. Sunday the 26th is lumpy and fresh. Monday the 27th is the worst of it: 7ft to 7ft S swell with a strong cross-on breeze at 28 mph and rain. That’s not paddle surfing – that’s kite territory, if anything.

The light at the end of the tunnel comes on Tuesday the 28th of July. The morning is small and marginal, but the afternoon shows a clean 4ft S swell with a light cross-off breeze and energy (455). It’s not the big stuff, but it’s clean. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th are clean and small, with the 30th afternoon looking glassy on a 4ft SSE swell. The first two days of August are pretty flat and weak, with a tiny last gasp of 5ft SSW swell on Sunday the 2nd of August in glassy conditions. That’s a small clean window, but nothing spectacular.

In short: your best bet is Tuesday the 21st of July. After that, you’re waiting for a clean-up later in the week of the 28th for some smaller, clean waves.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
3
5
4
1
1
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
2
2
1
2
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SE
15
1.6
SE
14
1.1
S
24
2.3
S
20
2.1
S
18
1.8
S
17
1.7
S
16
1.9
S
15
2.4
S
19
3
S
18
2.4
S
16
2.1
S
15
1.7
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.2
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.5
S
14
0.5
SSE
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1171
992
1344
4307
2796
1903
1452
1632
4171
5529
2860
1873
1002
493
400
181
94
103
81
Wind (km/h)
10
N
10
W
10
SSW
5
NW
10
W
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
SSW
15
SSW
10
S
5
WSW
10
ENE
10
NNW
5
NW
5
SSE
5
WNW
5
NNE
10
NE
15
NW
Wind State
off
cross
on
cross-off
cross
on
on
on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
8:36AM1.77m
8:58PM1.88m
9:27AM1.75m
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
Low Tide
2:28AM0.06m
2:42PM0.06m
3:21AM0.09m
3:36PM0.13m
4:12AM0.14m
4:30PM0.21m
5:02AM0.20m
5:23PM0.29m
5:51AM0.28m
6:15PM0.36m
6:39AM0.36m
7:08PM0.42m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:22
7:22
7:20
7:20
7:20
7:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:07
5:07
5:07
5:08
5:09
5:10
 mm
2
Temp °C
10
12
12
10
12
12
12
11
10
10
11
11
9
12
12
10
13
13
11
Feels °C
7
10
9
8
8
8
9
7
6
7
10
8
5
10
10
8
10
10
7
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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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