
Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 6 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 10s period, ESE swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 10 Jul, 3AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 10s period, SSE swell with 4,770 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 7 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 9s period with E 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 Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 18s. 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 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 10) 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 1.8m 8s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 07) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 7th Jul) | 6ft (1.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Fri 10th Jul) | 15ft (4.5m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright, I’ve been digging through the numbers for our stretch of coast, and here's the deal.
Right now, we’re in a holding pattern. Not much doing at the start, but it’ll fire up. On Monday afternoon, the 6th of July, it’s light rain with a weak cross-shore breeze from the ESE at 3 mph. The swell is a mixed-up 6 ft from the east with a short period of 9 seconds, and the water's at 56°, which is a touch colder than usual for the season. The combined wave energy is moderate (507), but it’s just too marginal to get excited about – maybe a low-tide paddle if you're desperate.
The real star of the show is Tuesday the 7th. Both the morning and afternoon are glassy – dead calm, no wind, which is a massive plus for clean surfaces. The swell holds around 5 ft from the east, and the period stretches to 10 seconds in the afternoon, pushing the combined energy to a solid moderate (632). The water’s still nippy, but for a Tuesday, you’ve got a dream window.
Wednesday the 8th sees the swell bump to 7 ft from the ESE, with energy climbing nicely (902), but the wind switches to a light cross-onshore from the west at 6 mph. It’ll be a bit bumpy, not as tidy as Tuesday. By Thursday and Friday, the wind turns nasty with strong onshore gusts, and the swell gets heavy – 15 ft on Friday with insane energy (6943). That’s strictly expert territory, and even then, the wind is garbage. The weekend through the next week is pretty ragged with onshore flow and fading swell.
The two standouts are Tuesday, the 7th of July – that’s the pick of the near-term. Hit the morning glass-off. And then, mark your calendar for Monday the 20th of July. The early morning of the 20th is looking primo: a 5 ft swell from the SSW, 11-second period, combined energy at 1101, and flat-calm conditions again. That’s an excellent call for experienced surfers – clean, long lines. It’s a couple weeks out, so treat it as a promising forecast, but if it holds, you’re in for a treat.
After that, the energy drops off into small, weak surf by the 21st – the run fizzles out. There’s a dry stretch in the middle of the month, from the 15th to the 19th, where conditions are poor to ordinary. Not a total blank, but a slow spell.
And remember, Blacks Reef can get crowded, especially when it’s glassy like on Tuesday and that Monday morning. Get out there early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 17mm), heaviest on Thu afternoon. Very mild (max 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Thu night, light winds from the WSW by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mon 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | |||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
473 | 529 | 408 | 469 | 863 | 746 | 676 | 584 | 425 | 490 | 4127 | 4514 | 4097 | 2515 | 1691 | 1393 | 1049 | 653 | 430 | 359 | 334 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 10:30PM1.58m | 10:48AM1.53m | 11:16PM1.60m | 11:34AM1.57m | 00:04AM1.63m | 12:26PM1.63m | 00:54AM1.67m | 1:22PM1.70m | 1:49AM1.70m | 2:19PM1.77m | 2:46AM1.73m | 3:16PM1.84m | 3:46AM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:14PM0.35m | 4:46AM0.31m | 5:01PM0.35m | 5:32AM0.31m | 5:49PM0.35m | 6:18AM0.31m | 6:42PM0.36m | 7:07AM0.30m | 7:39PM0.34m | 8:00AM0.29m | 8:39PM0.30m | 8:58AM0.26m | 9:39PM0.25m | 10:00AM0.22m | |||||||
— | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | |
4:59 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:01 | — | — | 5:01 | — | 5:02 | |
mm | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 9 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 9 | E 9 | E 9 | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | SSW 20 | S 17 | SE 11 | SE 10 | S 15 | S 15 | SE 10 | SE 10 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 10 |
473 | 529 | 408 | 469 | 863 | 746 | 676 | 584 | 425 | 490 | 75 | 153 | 2630 | 1887 | 109 | 40 | 1049 | 653 | 430 | 359 | 334 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 20 | SSW 18 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 8 | S 8 | SSW 8 | S 8 | S 11 | — | — | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | S 21 | S 20 | S 17 | S 15 | S 15 | S 14 | S 12 |
31 | 109 | 59 | 77 | 68 | 52 | 33 | 143 | 266 | 224 | — | — | 216 | 331 | 35 | 67 | 149 | 168 | 221 | 236 | 146 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 13 | S 17 | S 16 | — | — | — | — | — | S 14 | SSW 13 | — | — | ESE 10 | NE 12 |
3 | 16 | 97 | 86 | 81 | 104 | 92 | 53 | 49 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | 103 | 17 | — | — | 123 | 6 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | NE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | S 8 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 11 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
808 | 459 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 273 | 4127 | 4514 | 4097 | 2515 | 1691 | 1393 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 99 | 157 | 157 | 162 | 89 | 91 | 162 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 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.











