Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 07 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.5° C
1.4° 

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 6 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, S swell with 2,507 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.8m 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Friday (Aug 14) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Fri 7th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s
Best Surf12PM (Fri 7th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 16s
Most Powerful 6PM (Fri 7th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.

We’re kicking off this Friday the 7th of August with a proper run of clean, powerful surf. The water’s sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll want a thick suit and boots. The real standout is Blacks Reef. We’re getting a strong, long-period groundswell from the south, with 4ft of swell and a 17-second period. That’s serious energy, and with glassy conditions and a light offshore breeze, it’s going to be as clean as it gets. The combined energy is massive at 1784, so there’s plenty of power. This is a reef break, so the long period will wrap in nicely, and with the wind out of the WNW it’ll be smooth. It’s a big day for experienced surfers only, and it’s often crowded, so be ready to fight for a wave.

Heading into Friday afternoon, the swell jumps to 7ft from the south, still with a 15-second period and a huge 2388 energy reading. The wind stays a light cross-off, so it’s clean and powerful. Excellent for the experienced crew.

Saturday the 8th keeps the swell pumping, with 7ft south swell in the morning, dropping to 6ft in the afternoon. Periods drop to 12 seconds, but the energy is still very strong (1289 and 921). The morning has a light cross-off, and the afternoon stays clean. Very good surf, but still size for the more advanced.

Sunday the 9th sees the swell easing to 4ft in the morning and 3ft in the afternoon, with a nice 14-second period. The wind turns offshore from the north, so it’s clean and lined up. Energy is still moderate (670 and 570). This is a great day for a wider range of surfers, and the consistency is good.

Monday the 10th gets small, with 3ft SSE swell. The energy drops right off to 178, and the wind is cross-off, but it’s ordinary. There’s a bit of a gap after Sunday, with smaller, less inspiring surf through the middle of the week.

Tuesday the 11th is a mixed bag with a mostly cross-onshore breeze in the morning, but the afternoon cleans up with a cross-off and 3ft SSE swell. It’s surfable.

From Wednesday the 12th through to the end of the week, we hit a flat spell. The swell drops to 2ft or less, and the energy is very weak. The wind is often offshore or glassy, but there’s simply no wave to ride. This quiet period lasts for several days.

Now, looking ahead to the following week, there’s a promising sign around Saturday the 22nd of August. The morning brings a clean 4ft SSE swell with a 9-second period, light offshore wind from the north, and moderate energy at 511. The afternoon holds 4ft from the SE, still clean. It’s a good prospect, but it’s over a week away, so we’ll keep an eye on it.

All in all, this Friday through Sunday is your best bet. The south swell is solid, the wind is kind, and the water is cold but the quality is high. After that, it goes quiet for a while before a possible return to form late in the window.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 6°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Wed morning. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
2
1
0
1
1
1
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.3
S
17
2.1
S
15
2.3
S
13
2
S
12
1.8
S
12
1.5
S
11
1.3
S
11
0.9
S
14
1.1
S
12
0.9
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
10
1
S
10
1.3
S
9
1
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
11
0.5
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
8
0.9
SE
9
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
10
0.5
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
941
1860
1866
1233
911
553
388
293
347
173
131
196
275
239
198
57
67
112
51
49
42
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
10
E
5
NW
5
NNW
10
ENE
10
N
15
N
15
N
5
N
15
NW
10
S
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
E
15
NNE
15
NE
10
W
10
NW
5
NW
10
E
10
NNW
Wind State
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
12:04PM1.70m
00:33AM1.67m
1:01PM1.74m
1:29AM1.67m
2:00PM1.77m
2:29AM1.68m
2:59PM1.81m
3:29AM1.69m
3:57PM1.84m
4:28AM1.70m
4:56PM1.86m
5:26AM1.71m
5:54PM1.87m
Low Tide
6:23PM0.31m
6:46AM0.27m
7:22PM0.29m
7:41AM0.25m
8:22PM0.24m
8:41AM0.22m
9:21PM0.19m
9:43AM0.16m
10:20PM0.15m
10:43AM0.10m
11:18PM0.11m
11:39AM0.06m
00:16AM0.09m
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
mod rain
heavy rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:05
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:00
6:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
 mm
5
9
14
Temp °C
8
9
7
12
13
10
15
15
13
15
15
11
11
12
11
12
12
12
15
15
13
Feels °C
6
5
4
9
9
6
12
12
11
11
12
8
10
10
8
10
11
11
14
13
11
  • Map Icons:
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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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