Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 3 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with 1,697 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 13s 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 9AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 13s period. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Monday (Sep 07) at 12AM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 9AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 9AM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, it’s Rusty. Let’s talk Blacks Reef. This is a reef break that eats south swell, and we’ve got some good pulses coming, but you’ll need to time it right. Water temp is about normal for this time of year.
First real surf is Thursday morning, September 3rd. Swell is 6ft from the south, period at 13 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. Wind is light cross-off from the northwest, waves are clean. Combined energy is 1077, so plenty of grunt. This is for experienced folks only. Thursday afternoon, swell drops to 5ft, but the wind goes glassy. That’s the golden window at the start – smooth, lined up, and fun.
Friday the 4th morning drops to 3ft and the wind picks up. By afternoon it’s junky. The rest of the weekend stays small and messy.
Monday the 7th afternoon sees a bump to 8ft, but it’s onshore and short period – a choppy mess.
Tuesday the 8th morning bounces back with 7ft south swell, 11 seconds, light cross-off breeze. Clean and powerful. Wednesday the 9th holds at 5ft, still clean in the morning.
Now the real standout: Saturday the 12th. Morning has 7ft south groundswell (11 seconds) with offshore wind from the north at 3 mph. That’s clean, hollow, and stacked. Combined energy is 1168. Afternoon goes glassy on 7ft. This is your day. Then Sunday the 13th morning goes massive – 10ft south swell, 12 seconds, energy at 4292. That’s a big wave, expert-only, with light offshore winds. Afternoon drops to 8ft.
Monday the 14th still has 5ft with glassy morning conditions. Tuesday the 15th brings back 7ft to 8ft – clean, but the wind is a bit stronger. Good energy though.
From Wednesday the 16th onward, it fades. Small, onshore, or poor alignment. By Friday the 18th, it’s knee-high junk.
The best of the whole forecast is Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th morning. Blacks Reef often has a crowd, but with this quality, you’ll want to be there early.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun night, min 9°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSW 10 | SSW 17 | S 17 | S 16 | SSW 7 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2155 | 1077 | 613 | 268 | 146 | 71 | 29 | 140 | 103 | 81 | 100 | 97 | 151 | 21 | 653 | 1625 | 1030 | 727 | 541 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 9:40PM1.69m | 9:59AM1.73m | 10:30PM1.68m | 10:50AM1.74m | 11:22PM1.67m | 11:46AM1.74m | 00:17AM1.65m | 12:46PM1.73m | 1:15AM1.63m | 1:45PM1.73m | 2:15AM1.61m | 2:43PM1.74m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:52AM0.23m | 4:20PM0.25m | 4:42AM0.24m | 5:13PM0.25m | 5:34AM0.23m | 6:09PM0.23m | 6:29AM0.21m | 7:08PM0.21m | 7:26AM0.19m | 8:07PM0.18m | 8:26AM0.16m | 9:05PM0.15m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  | | | | | |  | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | — | 5:46 | — | — | 5:47 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 14 | 17 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 4 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | S 9 | SSW 10 | S 8 | S 17 | NE 6 | NE 6 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 |
| kJ | 2155 | 1077 | 613 | 268 | 146 | 71 | 20 | 140 | 103 | 81 | 100 | 37 | 151 | 12 | 6 | 1625 | 1030 | 727 | 541 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | ENE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 10 | S 17 | S 10 | S 15 | S 15 | NE 5 | S 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | E 10 | — | NE 10 | NE 4 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 13 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 24 | 29 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 26 | 97 | 45 | 21 | 2 | — | 4 | 3 | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | ENE 10 | S 19 | E 10 | NE 5 | E 10 | E 10 | E 10 | ENE 4 | E 10 | — | S 16 | N 10 | — | E 16 | E 16 | NE 15 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 10 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 21 | 2 | — | 5 | 5 | 9 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 3 | — | NW 3 | NW 4 | NW 4 | — | NW 3 | — | NW 2 | NNW 3 | NNE 3 | NE 6 | NW 3 | SSW 7 | — | N 3 | — | — |
| kJ | — | 7 | — | 2 | 8 | 17 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 8 | 3 | 86 | 2 | 653 | — | 4 | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 33 | 133 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 75 | 10 | 114 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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