Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 3PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 17s period, S swell with 3,882 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 10s 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 9PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 2.5m 17s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 3PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
We’ve got a mixed bag ahead for Blacks Reef. The next few days are a write-off, but there’s a beautiful window mid-week that’s worth circling on the calendar.
The first real surf on offer doesn’t show up until Monday morning, the 31st of August. We’re looking at a 3ft south swell with a long period of 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined energy is moderate (549), and with a gentle cross-shore wind, it’ll be surfable but a bit chopped up. The afternoon gets bigger, hitting 7ft from the south with a 14-second period, but the wind switches to a moderate cross-shore, so it’s still a little messy. A solid option for the experienced, but not the standout.
Tuesday the 1st of September is a bust. Onshore winds and rain, with 8ft to 10ft south swell. That’s too big for beginners and the conditions are poor. Skip it.
Now, Wednesday the 2nd of September is the one. This is the standout of the whole outlook. The morning kicks off with a clean 8ft south swell, 13-second period, and a light cross-offshore breeze from the NNW. The combined energy is strong (2219). By the afternoon, it gets even better – the wind drops to glassy, NNE at just 3 mph, and the swell holds at 8ft with a very long 17-second period. The energy jumps to very strong (4235). This is clean, powerful, and lined up. That said, at 8ft this is expert territory, and with a period that long, it’s going to be breaking straight on the beach, so it’s best suited for the reef setup here. It’s a very consistent spot, so expect waves, but crowds are likely – it’s a known spot.
Thursday the 3rd drops back to 6ft south swell, but the wind gets a bit bumpy with a moderate cross-shore. The energy is moderate (1179). Friday the 4th is smaller, around 4ft, and clean with cross-offshore winds, but nothing special.
The weekend of the 5th and 6th is small and weak. Saturday morning is a no-go, but Saturday afternoon turns glassy with a tiny 3ft south-southwest swell – surfable but very ordinary. Sunday the 6th shows a bit more life with a 4ft south swell and a long 16-second period, combined energy at 708, and light cross-offshore winds. That’s a decent morning session for the patient surfer.
From the 7th of September onward, it’s flat to tiny. The energy drops into the double digits and the swell fades to nothing. A few days of glassy 2ft waves on the 8th, but that’s about it. The last real pulse is on the 14th of September, with a 2ft south swell carrying a very long 19-second period – that’s all period and no size, so it’s a tease.
Overall, the best bet is Wednesday the 2nd of September, especially the afternoon glass-off. That’s the one to aim for.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 8°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSW 10 | S 17 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 8 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
78 | 34 | 32 | 465 | 1208 | 2490 | 2356 | 2017 | 2672 | 1952 | 3882 | 2338 | 878 | 466 | 224 | 254 | 154 | 85 | 82 | 68 | 69 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | on | on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:20PM1.62m | 7:44AM1.59m | 8:05PM1.66m | 8:29AM1.65m | 8:52PM1.69m | 9:13AM1.70m | 9:40PM1.69m | 9:59AM1.73m | 10:30PM1.68m | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:02PM0.25m | 1:35AM0.24m | 1:48PM0.24m | 2:20AM0.23m | 2:37PM0.24m | 3:05AM0.23m | 3:28PM0.25m | 3:52AM0.23m | 4:20PM0.25m | 4:42AM0.24m | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | ||||||||
6:35 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | |
— | 5:44 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:45 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 13 |
Feels °C | 12 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | NE 6 | ENE 8 | S 17 | S 14 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 13 | S 13 | S 17 | S 15 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | S 8 |
78 | 20 | 48 | 465 | 1208 | 1739 | 2356 | 2017 | 2672 | 1952 | 3882 | 2338 | 878 | 466 | 224 | 254 | 154 | 85 | 82 | 68 | 69 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 6 | SSE 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 8 | ENE 9 | ENE 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | ENE 10 | S 18 | SSW 17 | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 10 | NE 5 | E 10 | NE 4 | S 15 | S 16 | ENE 10 | E 10 |
16 | 34 | 32 | 77 | 29 | 15 | 22 | 19 | 9 | 398 | 2187 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 19 | 10 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 5 | ENE 9 | SE 11 | — | — | — | — | ENE 9 | — | — | — | — | E 10 | — | E 10 | NE 5 | E 10 | S 15 | S 15 |
15 | 31 | 9 | 53 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 4 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 3 | — | NW 3 | W 3 | SSW 13 | WNW 3 | — | — | NNE 9 | NE 9 | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 3 | WNW 4 | WNW 4 | — | — | NE 3 |
— | 1 | — | 4 | 6 | 2490 | 4 | — | — | 33 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 31 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 11 | — | — | 3 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 41 | 3 | 89 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 33 | 33 | 12 | 33 | 33 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
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.











