Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 27 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.3°C
1.3° 

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 27 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Tuesday 1 Sep, 9PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, S swell with 4,712 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 3.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 12AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-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 Friday (Aug 28) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Fri 28th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 16s
Best Surf 9PM (Tue 1st Sep)11ft (3.5m) 14s
Most Powerful12AM (Wed 2nd Sep)11ft (3.5m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at the next couple of weeks, and I gotta be straight with you: it’s a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve got a solid window of clean surf kicking things off, then a proper sloppy mess mid-week, but there’s a real gem hiding in there for the experienced crew. Let’s break it down.

We start this Thursday afternoon at Blacks Reef with some decent energy. We're looking at 6ft of south swell at a 17-second interval, and that’s proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong, reading at 1929. It’s a bit of a punchy one, so not for the faint-hearted. The water is 54°F, which is a touch colder than you’d expect for late August, about two and a half degrees off, so you'll want the hood. It’s cross-off with light breeze, so it should be holding up clean. This is a standout for the experienced surfer. Also, it’s a reef, and this long period swell will be lining up nicely there.

Friday morning sees the swell ease a touch to 5ft, still from the south, with a 13-second period. The wind is true offshore, NNE at 15 mph. Energy is still solid at 915. This is gonna be very good, clean surf. A great morning. But by Friday afternoon, it’s dropping to 4ft and the wind swings more cross-off. Still surfable, but the magic is gone.

Saturday drops off further, with 3ft south swell, but the conditions stay clean and cross-off, so worth a paddle if you’re keen for a longboard.

Sunday is a write-off. It’s small, messy, and crossed up. No good.

Then, things get interesting and a little wild. Monday brings a big pulse of SW swell, hitting 10ft on the morning, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s gonna be lumpy and unruly. By the afternoon, it’s 5ft but with a 15-second period and a cross-onshore 25 mph wind. The energy is strong (1903), but the conditions are choppy. This is not a paddle-surfing day. With that much swell and onshore wind on a reef, this has kite-surfing written all over it.

Tuesday is more of the same; the wind is onshore and there’s light rain. We’re getting 7ft to 8ft of SSW/S swell, but it’s all over the place. Not good.

But then, hold on. Wednesday morning, the second of September. The wind swings around to the northwest, cross-off, a light 6 mph breeze. The swell is still a healthy 7ft from the south, with a 12-second period. The energy is pumping at 1415. The comment says it all: excellent surf for experienced surfers. This is the second standout. It’s a big, powerful wave but on a reef like Black’s, with that offshore wind, it could be absolutely firing. The afternoon drops slightly to 6ft, but the wind goes straight offshore, north, at 6 mph. Clean lines, maybe a bit more manageable for the strong intermediate. This is the pick of the trip.

After that, it fades. Thursday and Friday are smaller, and the wind gets messy for Thursday. Friday morning has a bit of clean 3ft, but it’s nothing to get excited about. The weekend is small, in the 2ft to 2ft range, but Saturday afternoon goes glassy. Might be a fun log wave, but nothing critical.

The following week starts off flat and stays that way for a few days. It’s a real lull. Then things pick up again from the ninth, but the wind looks to be howling cross/offshore, making it messy. There’s a bit of swell on the 11th, 6ft, but it’s onshore and choppy. Looks like a blank run to end the period.

So, to sum it up: your two best shouts are Thursday afternoon and, even better, next Wednesday. The first is a strong intro; the second is the real deal. For the rest, you’re waiting on the wind to play nice. It’s the way of it, but when it’s on, it’s on.

Stay stoked.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Tue morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 6°C on Tue night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the WNW on Mon night, calm by Wed morning).

Thu
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
2
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
!
4
3
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
S
17
1.9
S
16
1.6
S
13
1.3
S
13
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.8
S
11
0.6
S
10
0.5
S
12
0.7
SSW
13
3
SSW
8
1.6
S
15
3
S
13
2.1
S
13
2.3
SSW
14
3.5
S
14
2.2
S
12
1.8
S
12
1.4
S
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1881
1750
901
543
350
216
202
154
80
76
168
893
1193
2571
1514
1886
4712
1415
885
517
Wind (km/h)
10
E
20
NNE
15
NNE
15
N
20
N
15
N
15
NE
10
N
10
W
10
WSW
25
W
15
W
25
SW
35
WNW
25
SSW
15
WSW
10
N
10
NW
10
N
20
WNW
Wind State
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross
High Tide
4:59PM1.50m
5:22AM1.41m
5:47PM1.53m
6:11AM1.46m
6:33PM1.57m
6:58AM1.52m
7:20PM1.62m
7:44AM1.59m
8:05PM1.66m
8:29AM1.65m
8:52PM1.69m
9:13AM1.70m
9:40PM1.69m
Low Tide
11:15PM0.34m
11:32AM0.32m
00:03AM0.30m
12:17PM0.28m
00:49AM0.26m
1:02PM0.25m
1:35AM0.24m
1:48PM0.24m
2:20AM0.23m
2:37PM0.24m
3:05AM0.23m
3:28PM0.25m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
part cloud
cloud
light rain
rain showers
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
light rain
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:37
6:35
6:35
6:33
6:31
6:30
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:40
5:42
5:43
5:44
5:45
5:45
5:46
 mm
1
6
5
1
Temp °C
12
11
15
16
14
16
15
13
15
16
14
13
14
13
8
8
7
14
17
13
Feels °C
10
7
12
12
11
13
13
11
14
14
9
9
8
5
2
4
4
12
14
8
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  • 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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