Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 11 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, SSW swell with onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 18 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 9s period, SSW swell with 2,422 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 6PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s 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 Sunday (Jul 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 9s. 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 4.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 14) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sun 12th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 6PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
Alright, this is Rusty. Let’s get into it.
Alright mates, we’re looking at Blacks Reef. The water’s sitting at 56°, which is a touch cooler than we’re used to for this time of year – about a degree and a half colder than average, so you might want that extra mil.
Honestly, the next few days are pretty pedestrian. We’ve got some swell bumping in around 7ft from the southeast on Saturday the 11th but the wind is on it and the energy is only moderate (1068). It’s just not clean enough to get excited about. Saturday afternoon and Sunday are the same story – small, messy, or just plain ordinary.
There’s a little window on Monday the 13th. The swell drops to 3ft from the south with a sweet 10-second period. What makes it worthwhile is that NNE wind swinging offshore and cleaning things up. The combined energy is weak (221) but it’ll be clean little rippers for a log or a funboard. Nothing epic, but you’ll get a couple of smiles.
Tuesday the 14th gets even smaller – 2ft with 12-second period, and the offshore wind is there in the morning at 12 mph from the north, but there’s just not enough water moving (energy is a weak 125). Wednesday and Thursday are more of the same – tiny, clean, but barely a bump.
Now, listen up. The real standout is Friday the 17th. We’ve got a solid 5ft to 5ft groundswell from the southeast with a 15-second period. That’s proper long-period energy, and the combined swell energy is strong (905 to 1109). The wind goes glassy in the morning and then cross-offshore in the afternoon. The water will be clean and the waves will have real push. This is easily the best session on offer for the next week and a half. It’s good enough for experienced surfers but with *often* crowds, so get out there early.
Saturday the 18th is a bit of a write-off. The swell jumps to 10ft from the south-southwest (2302 energy) but the wind is on it and it’s messy. Sunday the 19th is just too big for this reef – 15ft from the south with massive energy (10177) and it’s clean, but that’s expert-only territory and honestly, it might just close out.
After that, the second week is messy. We see another pulse of big east swell around Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th – 12ft with good offshore wind from the northeast on the 26th, but it’s large and the period drops a bit. It’ll be a clean, powerful wave for experts only. Not the best for a casual paddle.
So, in a nutshell: don’t waste your petrol on the next few days. The best bet is Friday the 17th – get on it. After that, keep an eye on the 26th if you’re a charger, but it’s a big one.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon afternoon, min 7°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SE 9 | SE 9 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | SE 9 | S 10 | SE 9 | S 12 | SE 8 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 822 | 606 | 338 | 343 | 222 | 216 | 135 | 122 | 59 | 75 | 17 | 39 | 48 | 53 | 65 | 183 | 236 | 580 | 795 | 1046 | 1219 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 2:19PM1.77m | 2:46AM1.73m | 3:16PM1.84m | 3:46AM1.75m | 4:14PM1.90m | 4:46AM1.78m | 5:14PM1.94m | 5:45AM1.79m | 6:14PM1.96m | 6:44AM1.79m | 7:11PM1.96m | 7:42AM1.78m | 8:06PM1.93m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:39PM0.30m | 8:58AM0.26m | 9:39PM0.25m | 10:00AM0.22m | 10:38PM0.19m | 11:01AM0.15m | 11:37PM0.13m | 11:59AM0.08m | 00:36AM0.09m | 12:53PM0.04m | 1:34AM0.06m | 1:47PM0.03m | 2:28AM0.06m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | |
 | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:02 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:04 | — | — | 5:05 | — | — | 5:06 | — |
mm | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | ESE 10 | ESE 11 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | ESE 14 | SE 16 | SE 15 | SE 15 | SE 15 |
| kJ | 822 | 606 | 338 | 231 | 178 | 173 | 120 | 99 | 59 | 46 | 25 | 39 | 48 | 53 | 65 | 183 | 236 | 580 | 795 | 1046 | 1219 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 12 | SE 8 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | S 5 | SSW 16 | SSE 5 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 55 | 248 | 334 | 343 | 222 | 216 | 135 | 122 | 47 | 75 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 21 | 85 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | S 10 | SSW 10 | — | S 6 | E 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | SSW 13 | E 15 | S 10 | ESE 12 | S 9 | ESE 7 | S 19 | S 17 | S 17 | S 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SE 5 |
| kJ | 48 | 51 | 32 | — | 28 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 56 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 54 | 42 | 8 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 7 | SSW 7 | SSW 6 | S 7 | — | — | N 2 | NNE 3 | NE 4 | NE 4 | NE 6 | NW 3 | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | — | SSW 3 | — | S 5 | — | — |
| kJ | 143 | 84 | 70 | 43 | — | — | 1 | 4 | 6 | 21 | 52 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 32 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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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