Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 15s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with 4,620 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s 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 (Sep 09) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 3.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12PM (Wed 9th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 16s |
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 coming our way.
We’re starting off with a pretty grim picture. The first few days are a write-off with strong onshore winds and messy conditions. Surf is on offer, but it’s not worth paddling out for. The real action doesn’t start to build until the middle of next week, and the standout window is from Monday the 14th through Tuesday the 15th.
Blacks Reef is the only game in town. For the first week, it’s pretty much a no-go. Monday the 7th is tiny with a 1ft SSW swell, but the wind is cross-off, so it’s just not happening. Tuesday the 8th gets a big pulse of 10ft SSE swell, but it’s blown out by strong onshore winds. The combined energy is massive though—over 1200 (moderate) on Tuesday morning, and 1928 (moderate) in the afternoon—but it’s all for nothing with that wind. Wednesday the 9th morning is still marginal, but the afternoon shows some hope: a 4ft SE swell, with light offshore NNE winds at 5 km/h. The combined energy is 238 (weak), but it’s clean. That’s the first real chance, but it’s only a 4ft swell, so keep your expectations in check.
The real magic starts Monday the 14th. Monday morning we’ve got glassy conditions, light W wind at 5 km/h, and a 5ft S swell with a long 13-second period. The combined energy is 908 (moderate). That’s a proper groundswell, and it’s going to be clean as a whistle. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off E breeze. This is the pick of the whole forecast. The water temp is 55°, which is about average for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit.
Tuesday the 15th is a close second. Morning glass again, light W wind, with a 4ft S swell and a 12-second period. Combined energy of 583 (moderate). It’s a bit smaller than Monday, but still clean and fun. The afternoon the swell drops to 3ft, but it’s still clean.
After that, it’s back to the struggle. The wind swings onshore again from the 16th onward, and the swell gets messy. There’s a big pulse on the 21st with a 8ft S swell and a very long 18-second period, and combined energy of 3894 (strong), but it’s hammered by 35 km/h SSW onshore winds. That’s only for experts, and even then, it’s going to be a battle. The long period means it’ll be breaking straight at this reef, so it’s more of a tow-in or kite session if anything.
So, get your Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th locked in. The rest is mostly waiting.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 40mm), heaviest during Mon night. Very mild (max 16°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Thu night. Very mild (max 15°C on Thu morning, min 7°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SSW 15 | SSW 19 | S 8 | S 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 6 | S 11 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 51 | 297 | 1547 | 1230 | 1098 | 500 | 327 | 182 | 108 | 77 | 52 | 76 | 943 | 1190 | 210 | 99 | 341 | 1527 | 3955 | 2559 | 1297 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross |
High Tide | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | 3:14AM1.61m | 3:41PM1.74m | 4:12AM1.62m | 4:37PM1.75m | 5:08AM1.63m | 5:33PM1.75m | 6:03AM1.67m | 6:25PM1.75m | 6:56AM1.71m | 7:15PM1.74m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | 9:27AM0.13m | 10:02PM0.13m | 10:25AM0.11m | 10:59PM0.13m | 11:19AM0.11m | 11:53PM0.14m | 12:11PM0.13m | 00:45AM0.17m | 1:02PM0.18m | 1:33AM0.22m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — |
mm | 2 | 6 | 29 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Feels °C | 14 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | SE 8 | SSE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ENE 13 | S 7 | SSW 6 | ENE 9 | S 11 | S 16 | S 15 | S 14 |
| kJ | 9 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 830 | 500 | 327 | 182 | 108 | 77 | 52 | 44 | 17 | 35 | 205 | 43 | 7 | 1527 | 3955 | 2559 | 1297 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | NE 16 | NNE 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 15 | ENE 13 | NE 13 | S 18 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | S 17 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | E 12 |
| kJ | 37 | 20 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 31 | 78 | 52 | 23 | 21 | 12 | 76 | 34 | 45 | 158 | 20 | 4 | 963 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | N 9 | NE 16 | NE 16 | E 17 | NE 8 | E 15 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 21 | NE 7 | NE 9 | ENE 13 | SSW 17 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 51 | 48 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 2 | 12 | 34 | 99 | 16 | 15 | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | S 7 | SSE 8 | SSE 9 | SSE 9 | — | — | — | NNE 3 | NW 3 | — | NNW 3 | SSW 19 | S 8 | SSW 7 | WNW 2 | SSW 6 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 2 | 297 | 1547 | 1230 | 1098 | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 3 | 943 | 1190 | 210 | 1 | 341 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 33 | 9 | 103 | 89 | 114 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 9 | 0 | 33 | 168 | 41 | 33 | 6 | 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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