Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 15s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, S swell with 4,145 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 1.5m and 7s is also forecast. 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 15s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 9PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Sat 12th Sep) | 8ft (2.5m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 12AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's get into it. Things are quiet right now, so let's be honest about that.
The outlook kicks off with a bit of a wait. Early on, winds are onshore and messy. We're looking at Saturday the 12th with a 5ft swell from the SSW, but a stiff 15 mph onshore wind just trashes the surface. Combined wave energy is sitting at 1166, so there's moderate energy in the water, but it's not rideable in any decent way.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Monday morning the 14th is our first real standout. Blacks Reef wakes up with a glassy 7ft swell from the south, period a solid 12 seconds. Winds are a light NE breeze, basically glass. This is a proper groundswell, and while the size is a bit much for beginners, experienced surfers will find excellent conditions. The water's a bit colder than usual for this time of year, sitting at 55°, so don't be shy with the extra rubber. Crowds are often a thing here, and on a clean day like this, expect company.
Tuesday the 15th is cleaner but smaller, dropping to 4ft. Still fun for a log or a fish, but not the main event. From Wednesday the 16th, we drop right off into tiny, weak surf for a solid stretch. There's a real gap from the 17th through the 20th where it's basically flat or blown out, with gale-force SW wind on the 20th that's just ugly.
There's a flicker of clean, smaller swell on Tuesday the 22nd afternoon, with 3ft and a clean cross-off breeze, but it's brief. Another small but clean option shows up on Saturday the 26th, with a glassy 3ft south swell. Nice for a paddle, but not a standout.
Now, hold onto your board. Sunday the 27th, we get a massive, expert-only pulse. A very long-period 11-second south swell pushes to 13ft in the morning and 12ft in the afternoon. Combined energy is extreme, clocking in at 3236. Winds are glassy in the morning and clean cross-off in the afternoon. This is a serious, heavy ocean. Blacks Reef can handle it, but only if you know what you're doing. This is not a day for the faint of heart. For experts, that Sunday is the absolute peak of the whole 16-day window.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | SSW 14 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 14 | S 7 | S 7 | S 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1162 | 1042 | 4145 | 2424 | 2110 | 1468 | 1207 | 930 | 563 | 305 | 184 | 116 | 78 | 57 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 31 | 86 | 56 | 715 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | off | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:25PM1.75m | 6:56AM1.71m | 7:15PM1.74m | 7:45AM1.75m | 8:04PM1.73m | 8:30AM1.77m | 8:52PM1.71m | 9:14AM1.76m | 9:39PM1.68m | 9:58AM1.72m | 10:25PM1.64m | 10:45AM1.66m | 11:11PM1.59m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:11PM0.13m | 00:45AM0.17m | 1:02PM0.18m | 1:33AM0.22m | 1:52PM0.24m | 2:19AM0.27m | 2:43PM0.29m | 3:05AM0.33m | 3:31PM0.34m | 3:51AM0.39m | 4:19PM0.39m | 4:38AM0.42m | 5:05PM0.42m | ||||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | |  | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:55 | — | — | 5:57 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:59 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Temp °C | 11 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | S 16 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 11 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | S 8 | S 8 | S 8 | NE 4 | S 7 | S 7 | S 16 |
| kJ | 14 | 1042 | 4145 | 2424 | 1444 | 1468 | 1207 | 930 | 563 | 305 | 184 | 116 | 78 | 57 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 86 | 56 | 715 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 13 | S 6 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 9 | S 16 | SSW 16 | NE 6 | NE 5 | S 13 | NE 5 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SE 14 | SE 13 | SE 14 | SE 13 |
| kJ | 17 | 80 | 30 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 46 | 47 | 38 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 31 | 27 | 29 | 58 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 7 | ENE 13 | — | ENE 8 | E 8 | NE 9 | E 15 | — | E 11 | — | E 13 | S 15 | E 12 | E 12 | SSW 13 | ESE 10 | ESE 14 | WNW 3 | S 11 | S 18 | NE 12 |
| kJ | 4 | 33 | — | 7 | 6 | 3 | 4 | — | 2 | — | 3 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 17 | 10 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 55 | 5 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | S 6 | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | NE 3 | — | NE 3 | — | — | NE 5 | — | NW 3 | NE 4 | SW 3 | — | — | NE 3 |
| kJ | 1162 | 120 | — | — | 2110 | — | — | — | 4 | — | 5 | — | — | 6 | — | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | — | 7 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 99 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 274 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 97 | 241 | 82 | 6 | 2 | 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.
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