Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 pm 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
11.8°C
1.9° 

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 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 13s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 18s period, S swell with 2,654 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 24 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with SSW 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 Monday (Aug 24) at 12PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 17s. 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 2.1m 18s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Friday (Aug 28) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12PM (Mon 24th Aug)4.5ft (1.3m) 8s
Best Surf 6PM (Mon 24th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 13s
Most Powerful 3PM (Thu 27th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 18s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for Blacks Reef. It’s a solid run of surf, but we’ve got a bit of a wait before the real magic happens.

The overall pattern kicks off with some clean, but smaller waves, and then builds into a couple of absolute standout sessions. There’s a gnarly, oversized swell right at the end of the window that’s only for the brave, and then a gorgeous, powerful day that’s the real pick of the bunch.

First up, we’ve got Monday the 24th of August. The morning is a little messy with a cross-shore wind, but the afternoon cleans right up. You’ll see a 4ft swell from the south with a long 14-second period. The wind turns light and cross-offshore, making for clean conditions. The combined energy is moderate (815). A solid afternoon session for a beginner-friendly reef.

Tuesday the 25th is a beauty. The morning has a light cross-off breeze, with a 4ft south swell at 12 seconds. By the afternoon, the wind goes completely glassy, zero, dead calm. The swell drops a touch to 4ft, but the period stays at 12 seconds. The energy is moderate (470). This is a top contender for the cleanest, most user-friendly wave of the early part of the outlook. For a beginner spot, this is perfect.

Wednesday the 26th keeps the good times rolling. The morning is glassy with a tiny 3ft swell, but here’s the kicker: the period is a whopping 17 seconds. That’s very long-period groundswell energy, and the combined energy is still a solid 503. It’ll be a bit wait for the sets, but the shape will be unreal. The afternoon stays clean with a 3ft, 16-second south swell. Lovely.

Now, Thursday the 27th of August is a standout. The morning is glassy, with a 5ft south swell and an incredible 18-second period. The combined energy jumps to 1573 – that’s strong, powerful water moving. The report says excellent for experienced surfers, and I’d second that. The long period makes it excellent for this reef, but the size is getting into the “too big for beginners” range. The afternoon is a bit bigger at 7ft, but the wind picks up to a cross-offshore breeze. Still very good, but the morning glass is the peak.

We’ve got good, clean conditions through Friday the 28th, Saturday the 29th, and into the morning of Sunday the 30th. The swell stays in the 3ft to 5ft range with decent south energy. Sunday afternoon gets a bit of a reset, but it goes glassy again with a 4ft swell.

The week starts to get messy on Monday the 31st of August with strong onshore winds. The surf is poor. Tuesday the 1st of September is a redemption. The morning is a real standout. Offshore wind from the north, a 5ft south swell with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a strong 1278. Clean, powerful, and well-shaped. Expert-friendly, but the size is still manageable for a confident intermediate. That’s another top session.

The following days get a bit wild. Wednesday the 2nd of September sees a 10ft swell with onshore wind – that’s a choppy, powerful mess, only for the very experienced. Thursday the 3rd is poor with cross-shore winds.

Then we hit the big one. Friday the 4th of September. The morning shows an 12ft south swell with a 21-second period. The combined energy is a massive 11986. The report says it’s too big for this break. I’m telling you, unless you’re a pro on a gun, stay on the beach. Saturday the 5th of September is the climax. The morning is clean, with offshore wind, a 10ft south swell, and a 14-second period. The energy is 3419. The report says excellent for experienced surfers. This is the biggest, cleanest, most powerful wave of the entire outlook. For experts only. The afternoon is still big at 8ft but gets a bit wind-affected.

The surf eases back into the 5ft to 6ft range through Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th of September, with clean conditions, before the window closes.

If you’re a beginner, hit Tuesday the 25th or Wednesday the 26th of August. If you’re experienced, don’t miss the morning of Thursday the 27th of August or the morning of Tuesday the 1st of September. For the big-dog crew, the morning of Saturday the 5th of September is the one to circle.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
1
3
4
2
2
2
3
3
2
4
3
4
3
2
2
1
2
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SE
13
1.6
SSW
9
1.3
S
14
1.8
S
13
1.2
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.7
S
15
0.8
S
17
1
S
16
0.9
SSW
16
1.6
S
18
2.1
S
18
1.8
S
16
1.6
S
13
1.4
S
13
1.2
S
12
1
S
12
1.1
S
11
1
S
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
44
371
694
1021
439
347
215
386
494
454
1561
2654
1571
901
640
416
266
313
251
Wind (km/h)
20
W
10
W
10
ENE
10
NW
10
NW
0
E
10
NW
5
NW
10
NE
10
NW
5
N
15
ENE
10
N
15
N
15
NNW
20
NNE
20
NW
10
NW
20
WNW
Wind State
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
2:10AM1.45m
2:43PM1.52m
2:58AM1.40m
3:28PM1.49m
3:46AM1.38m
4:13PM1.49m
4:33AM1.38m
4:59PM1.50m
5:22AM1.41m
5:47PM1.53m
6:11AM1.46m
6:33PM1.57m
Low Tide
8:23AM0.46m
8:57PM0.47m
9:11AM0.44m
9:43PM0.43m
10:00AM0.41m
10:29PM0.39m
10:48AM0.36m
11:15PM0.34m
11:32AM0.32m
00:03AM0.30m
12:17PM0.28m
00:49AM0.26m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:43
6:41
6:41
6:39
6:37
6:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:38
5:38
5:39
5:40
5:42
5:43
 mm
Temp °C
12
13
14
12
15
17
13
16
16
15
18
17
13
17
17
13
17
17
13
Feels °C
6
11
10
9
13
15
10
14
13
12
15
13
9
13
13
8
13
14
9
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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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