Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 29 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period, SE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 12PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, SE swell with 2,534 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 6AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 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 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Wed 29th Jul) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 28th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m breaking down the outlook for Blacks Reef. This is a reef break that’s exposed to the south and is usually a consistent spot, so when it’s on, it’s on. The water temp is about 54°F, which is a bit cooler than normal for this time of year.
The next 16 days start off real rough. Saturday and Sunday are total washouts. Saturday the 25th has a weak 3ft east swell with a combined energy of 176, and the wind is all over the place. Sunday the 26th brings a short-period 8ft south swell but the onshore wind trashes it—energy is at 1300 but the quality is zero. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th are more of the same: big, lumpy, and blown-out.
But Wednesday the 29th is the clear standout. Morning glass—offshore wind from the north-northwest at only 3 mph, with a clean 7ft groundswell from the southeast running at 13 seconds. The combined energy sits at 1331. This is a proper swell for experienced surfers. The afternoon holds up too, with a cross-off breeze and clean 7ft waves.
Thursday the 30th is still good—clean morning surf with 5ft of ESE swell and light wind, though the energy drops to 633. Still very solid. Friday the 31st fades to smaller waves around 3ft to 3ft, clean but kinda marginal.
Then the second week is mostly blown out again. From the 4th to the 7th of August, huge south swell hits up to 12ft or more, but the wind is howling onshore. The energy peaks at 4246 on the 7th, but it’s a chaotic mess—only for experts or kite surfers.
The window ends with some hope on Sunday the 9th of August: a morning offshore wind from the north-northeast at 6 mph, clean 5ft swell from the south-southeast with a period of 10 seconds. The energy is low at 448, but it’s clean and rideable. A nice little finish to a challenging outlook.
So the call is simple: Wednesday the 29th of July is your best bet. Glassy, solid groundswell, and Blacks Reef doing what it does best. After that, you’re waiting until the 9th for another clean session.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sat night. Very mild (max 12°C on Sat morning, min 6°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu afternoon, min 7°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 11 | E 11 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 11 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | SE 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 163 | 160 | 458 | 655 | 703 | 567 | 1288 | 1368 | 1783 | 1576 | 2158 | 1521 | 1305 | 1197 | 904 | 585 | 435 | 302 | 247 | 125 | 91 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | on |
High Tide | 2:36PM1.59m | 2:51AM1.51m | 3:22PM1.58m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:50PM0.50m | 9:04AM0.48m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | |  | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:12 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:14 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:16 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 |
Temp °C | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 11 |
Feels °C | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 11 | E 11 | ESE 11 | SE 14 | ESE 14 | ESE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 13 | ESE 14 | SE 13 | SE 13 | SE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 163 | 160 | 123 | 476 | 486 | 451 | 658 | 659 | 659 | 1576 | 2158 | 1521 | 1305 | 1197 | 904 | 585 | 435 | 302 | 247 | 125 | 82 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SE 17 | SE 16 | E 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | — | SSW 14 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 11 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SE 16 | SE 12 | SE 14 |
| kJ | 27 | 106 | 245 | 119 | 44 | 36 | — | 36 | 34 | 30 | 23 | 37 | 20 | 19 | 11 | 39 | 18 | 17 | 39 | 38 | 91 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 18 | NE 5 | N 10 | SSW 16 | E 13 | SW 13 | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | S 18 | S 16 | S 15 | SSW 10 | S 16 | S 16 | S 16 | SE 15 | SE 11 |
| kJ | 13 | 4 | 2 | 50 | 55 | 40 | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | 6 | 5 | 18 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 57 | 31 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 2 | SW 3 | SSW 7 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | S 9 | SSE 11 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | NNE 4 | NW 3 | NW 3 | NNW 3 | NNE 4 | NE 6 | SSW 4 |
| kJ | 1 | 11 | 458 | 655 | 703 | 567 | 1288 | 1368 | 1783 | 529 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 29 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 89 | 91 | 62 | 157 | 41 | 89 | 93 | 79 | 79 | 89 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 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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