Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 05 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.7° C
1.2° 

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 4 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period, SSE swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 12s period, S swell with 5,569 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 10s period with SSE 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 07) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m 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 12s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 05) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 4s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 09) at 12PM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 6AM (Fri 7th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 10s
Best Surf 6AM (Fri 7th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 10s
Most Powerful12PM (Wed 5th Aug)15ft (4.5m) 12s

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


The Lowdown

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Blacks Reef over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got a bit of a rough start, but there’s some real magic shaping up for the end of the week if you’re patient.

The first few days are a write-off, I’m sorry to say. Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th are getting hammered by strong onshore winds and messy, blown-out conditions. The swell is big, with waves around 16ft on Wednesday and 10ft on Thursday, but it’s all coming from the south with a strong onshore wind. The water’s sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year. It’s just ugly out there.

Then, Friday the 7th morning is where things start to turn. We get a proper shift. The wind drops right out to glassy conditions, with a light offshore from the northwest. The swell drops to a solid 6ft from the SSE, with a period of 10 seconds. The wave energy is still strong (1720), and it’s cleaning right up. This is excellent for experienced surfers – the size is up there, but the conditions will be perfect. Friday afternoon looks just as good, with a 6ft swell from the south, a long 15-second period, and a clean cross-offshore breeze. The energy is still pumping (2061). This is the standout of the whole outlook, no doubt.

Saturday the 8th keeps the good run going. Morning has a 7ft south swell (13-second period) with a clean cross-off wind, and the energy is still strong (1421). The afternoon drops a touch to 6ft but stays clean. This is for the experienced crew again – the swell is over 5ft, so it’s not for beginners.

Sunday the 9th sees the swell ease to 4ft in the morning and 4ft in the afternoon, but we get a proper offshore wind from the north and north-northeast, making for clean, fun waves. The energy is moderate (564 and 515). Good conditions for a wider range of surfers.

Monday the 10th is smaller, with 3ft waves and a clean cross-off breeze in the morning, but the afternoon gets a light cross-on wind that messes it up a bit. From there, the surf drops right off. From Tuesday the 11th through to the 20th, it’s mostly small, weak, and ordinary. There are a few clean windows with offshore winds and small waves (2ft to 3ft), but nothing that gets the heart racing. The swell energy drops into the low double and triple digits, and the period is short or inconsistent.

There’s a bit of a pulse around the 15th and 16th with some long-period south swell (20 seconds and 19 seconds), but the wind is either cross-on or cross-shore, making it choppy and poor. The 16th afternoon has a 3ft, 16-second swell with light cross-shore wind – it’s marginal. The 18th sees a 8ft SSW swell but with a strong onshore wind, so that’s a no-go. And the 19th is a big, windy mess again.

So, to cut it short: the best surfing is locked in for Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th. Get out there if you can handle the size and you’ll score some of the cleanest, most powerful waves we’ll see all outlook. After that, it’s a long wait for anything worthwhile.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 8mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri afternoon, min 4°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Wed morning, calm by Fri morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 9°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light.

Wednesday
5
Thursday
6
Friday
7
Saturday
8
Sunday
9
Monday
10
Tuesday
11
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
0
1
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
0
1
1
1
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
5
S
12
4
S
12
3.5
S
12
3
S
11
2.5
S
11
1.1
SSE
12
1.9
SSE
10
1.8
S
15
2.2
S
13
2.1
S
13
1.8
S
12
1.5
S
11
1.3
S
11
0.8
SSE
14
1.2
SSE
13
0.9
SSE
11
0.9
SSE
10
0.8
SSE
10
0.8
S
9
1
S
11
0.9
SSE
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
6919
4837
3027
2174
1439
371
712
1492
1710
1401
926
563
388
260
492
205
184
128
108
242
195
Wind (km/h)
40
SSW
35
SSW
25
SW
20
SW
20
SW
10
WNW
5
NW
10
E
10
NW
5
NNW
10
ENE
10
NNW
15
N
20
NNE
10
NNW
15
NW
5
W
5
SW
5
SSW
15
ENE
15
NNE
Wind State
on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross-off
off
High Tide
10:22AM1.63m
10:51PM1.66m
11:10AM1.67m
11:41PM1.67m
12:04PM1.70m
00:33AM1.67m
1:01PM1.74m
1:29AM1.67m
2:00PM1.77m
2:29AM1.68m
2:59PM1.81m
3:29AM1.69m
3:57PM1.84m
Low Tide
4:38PM0.30m
5:05AM0.28m
5:29PM0.31m
5:54AM0.28m
6:23PM0.31m
6:46AM0.27m
7:22PM0.29m
7:41AM0.25m
8:22PM0.24m
8:41AM0.22m
9:21PM0.19m
9:43AM0.16m
10:20PM0.15m
light rain
light rain
light rain
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:03
7:01
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:22
5:22
5:22
5:23
5:24
5:25
5:27
 mm
2
2
4
4
Temp °C
8
8
9
9
9
6
9
10
7
13
13
11
14
14
13
15
17
12
12
13
11
Feels °C
-1
0
2
3
4
2
7
7
4
10
10
8
10
10
12
11
14
9
11
10
7
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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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