Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 11 am 08 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.3° C
1.6° 

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 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s period, S swell with offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, SSW swell with 1,351 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 12s 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 (Aug 08) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 13s. 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 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6PM (Sat 8th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Best Surf 6PM (Sat 8th Aug)5.5ft (1.7m) 12s
Most Powerful 6PM (Sat 15th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

We’ve got a solid window of surf on offer at Blacks Reef, starting this Saturday morning and running through Sunday. The ocean is waking up with a good, clean 7ft south swell, with a nice long 12-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and with the combined energy sitting at a strong 1263, you can feel the push. The water is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 54°, about 3° cooler than average, so you might want an extra mil of rubber.

Saturday morning is the standout. The swell is coming from the south, which is exactly what this reef wants to see. Wind is light and cross-off from the northwest, keeping things super clean. This is a reef setup, so that long-period swell will wrap in nicely and offer some proper shape. It’s a beginner-friendly break, but with 7ft, it’s pushing into intermediate territory. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Saturday afternoon holds up with 6ft south swell, still clean with a light cross-off breeze. Not quite as punchy as the morning, but still very good.

Sunday morning drops to 4ft, but the wind goes north at 15 km/h, still cross-off, so it stays clean. By Sunday afternoon, the wind turns offshore from the NNE, and the swell drops to 3ft but the period stretches to 13 seconds. That’s a lovely, clean little wave for the longboard or a fun twinny.

Then we hit a dry spell. From Monday the 10th of August through to the 14th, conditions go downhill. The swell drops, periods shorten, and the wind turns cross-on or onshore. It’s not worth paddling out unless you’re desperate.

There’s a flicker of life on Wednesday the 12th, with offshore winds and a building 5ft swell, but the period is short at 9 seconds and the energy is moderate (317). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

By Friday the 14th afternoon, we get a little spike: 5ft east swell, 8-second period, and light cross-off wind. It’s clean, but short-period stuff is a bit dumpy and messy. Fine for a quick session if you’re bored.

The real trouble starts on Saturday the 15th. The swell balloons to 8ft on the 15th and then goes absolutely nuts. By Sunday the 16th, we’re looking at 12ft, then 16ft on Monday the 17th, and a massive 18ft on Tuesday the 18th. That’s huge, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore. This is not for paddle surfing. This setup is way more interesting for kite surfing than anything you’d want to duck-dive into. The combined energy hits 18342 on Tuesday morning – that’s a beast of an ocean. Stay out of the water unless you’re an expert on a big-wave gun, and even then, the onshore wind will make it ugly.

From Wednesday the 19th onward, the swell drops back to 8ft, but the wind stays onshore or cross-on, and the conditions are poor. Thursday the 20th through to Sunday the 23rd is a write-off: messy, choppy, onshore slop. Not worth the drive.

So, to sum it up: your best bet is this Saturday morning (8th of August) at Blacks Reef. Get there early for the cleanest lines. Sunday morning is also a good shout for a smaller, cleaner session. After that, it’s a long wait for anything decent, and the big stuff that follows is for the wind craft, not us.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Sun morning, min 8°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
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)
4
3
3
3
3
2
0
0
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
0
1
1
1
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2
S
12
1.8
S
12
1.5
S
11
1.3
S
11
0.9
S
13
1.1
S
12
0.9
SSE
10
0.9
SSE
10
0.7
SSE
12
1.5
S
8
0.9
SSE
11
1.2
S
11
0.8
SSE
10
1.4
SE
9
1
SE
8
0.8
SE
8
0.7
SE
8
0.6
SE
7
0.8
ESE
8
1.5
E
8
1.7
ESE
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1233
911
553
388
289
341
173
163
131
287
221
332
133
307
132
82
60
44
66
263
422
Wind (km/h)
5
NW
10
ENE
10
NNW
15
N
15
NNE
15
NNW
15
WNW
10
S
10
WSW
10
WSW
10
SW
10
N
15
NE
20
NE
20
NNE
25
NE
25
NE
15
NE
10
NE
5
NW
10
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-off
off
off
off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
1:01PM1.74m
1:29AM1.67m
2:00PM1.77m
2:29AM1.68m
2:59PM1.81m
3:29AM1.69m
3:57PM1.84m
4:28AM1.70m
4:56PM1.86m
5:26AM1.71m
5:54PM1.87m
6:24AM1.72m
6:49PM1.87m
Low Tide
7:22PM0.29m
7:41AM0.25m
8:22PM0.24m
8:41AM0.22m
9:21PM0.19m
9:43AM0.16m
10:20PM0.15m
10:43AM0.10m
11:18PM0.11m
11:39AM0.06m
00:16AM0.09m
12:32PM0.05m
1:11AM0.09m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
cloud
mod rain
light rain
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
7:00
6:58
6:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:27
5:28
5:29
5:30
 mm
2
8
2
3
Temp °C
12
12
10
15
14
12
15
15
11
11
11
10
13
13
11
14
14
14
14
13
12
Feels °C
9
8
6
11
11
9
11
12
8
8
8
8
9
9
7
10
10
12
12
12
11
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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