Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 08 Sep 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.9°C
0.8° 

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 8 Sep 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 12 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 14s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 16s period, S swell with 4,537 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Sep 09) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 9s. 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 9PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Wed 9th Sep)4.5ft (1.4m) 8s
Best Surf 9PM (Sat 12th Sep)7.5ft (2.3m) 14s
Most Powerful 3AM (Sun 13th Sep)10ft (3.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Right, grab a coffee, let's have a look at the forecast for Blacks Reef.

Alright, so the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag for Blacks Reef. We’ve got a really rough start, with Tuesday the 8th looking like a complete write-off. That strong southerly wind just has it blown out. Not a single wave worth paddling for. We’re looking at a gap of a few days with absolutely nothing on offer before things start to settle.

The first real sign of life shows up on Wednesday morning, the 9th. The wind goes glassy, coming out of the northwest, and we’ll see some clean 5-foot waves from the southeast. The energy is moderate (330), and the period is short, under 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit lumpy but super clean. This is a good window for a beginner surf. The afternoon is a bit more marginal with the wind turning cross-off, but it's still rideable.

The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, is on Sunday morning, the 13th of September. The ocean is going to be pumping. We’re looking at a serious 8-foot groundswell from the south combining with a very long 16-second period, giving it a massive 3657 of combined energy. That’s a powerful, deep-water swell. The wind is cross-onshore out of the west, which isn't perfect, but it’s a clean enough cross-off for a reef. This is strictly for experts only though, that size and power at a reef break is no joke. The long period will make it wall up nicely, but it’ll be tricky.

The following week is quieter. Monday morning, the 15th, looks promising with a 6-foot swell from the south at 12 seconds and a clean cross-off wind from the northwest. That’s a solid, fun day. The energy is still strong (916). Then Thursday afternoon, the 17th, brings a solid 10-foot swell from the south, but the period has dropped to 10 seconds, and the energy is still very high (1675). The wind is cross-off, so it’ll be clean, but again, that’s a big, powerful wave for experienced surfers only.

The very end of the run, Sunday the 20th, has a bit of a glassy, tiny 2-foot swell from the south with a very long 14-second period. It’s small, but if you’re on a longboard, it might be worth a look for a quiet, easy paddle.

Water temp is sitting at 55°F, which is about average for the time of year, so don't expect any surprises on that front.

Keep an eye on that Sunday the 13th. It’s the biggest, most powerful swell of the whole period, but you need to be an expert to handle it. The crowds are a given at Blacks Reef, so expect company.

Stay salty,
Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 10mm), heaviest on Thu night. Very mild (max 16°C on Thu morning, min 8°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the SSW by Thu night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Fri morning, calm by Sun night).

Tuesday
8
Wednesday
9
Thursday
10
Friday
11
Saturday
12
Sunday
13
Monday
14
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
4
2
2
4
2
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
SSE
8
2.5
SSE
9
1.9
SE
8
1.5
SE
8
1.4
SE
8
1.1
SE
8
0.8
SE
7
0.7
SE
8
0.3
S
21
2.4
S
7
2
S
8
0.5
S
18
0.4
SSW
17
0.6
S
16
3
S
14
2.5
S
16
2.1
S
16
1.8
S
15
1.8
S
13
1.9
S
13
2
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
987
877
456
270
260
149
65
55
77
636
442
156
96
198
3249
3657
2290
1450
1138
1145
1129
Wind (km/h)
25
SSW
25
SSW
10
SW
5
NW
20
ENE
15
NW
20
NW
5
WSW
20
SW
25
SSW
20
SSW
5
NNW
20
SW
15
S
15
N
20
W
15
SSW
5
S
15
S
10
SSW
15
N
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
on
on
cross-off
cross-on
on
cross-off
cross-on
on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-off
High Tide
2:43PM1.74m
3:14AM1.61m
3:41PM1.74m
4:12AM1.62m
4:37PM1.75m
5:08AM1.63m
5:33PM1.75m
6:03AM1.67m
6:25PM1.75m
6:56AM1.71m
7:15PM1.74m
7:45AM1.75m
8:04PM1.73m
Low Tide
9:05PM0.15m
9:27AM0.13m
10:02PM0.13m
10:25AM0.11m
10:59PM0.13m
11:19AM0.11m
11:53PM0.14m
12:11PM0.13m
00:45AM0.17m
1:02PM0.18m
1:33AM0.22m
1:52PM0.24m
2:19AM0.27m
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
light rain
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:20
6:18
6:18
6:16
6:15
6:13
6:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:52
5:52
5:53
5:54
5:54
5:55
5:57
 mm
1
9
5
1
2
3
Temp °C
10
10
10
13
12
10
16
16
12
10
10
8
11
12
10
14
14
11
11
11
10
Feels °C
4
4
6
11
8
7
13
14
9
3
5
5
6
8
5
10
11
10
8
8
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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