Surf Forecasts:
Blacks Reef surf forecast from 3 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 7 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 11s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, S swell with 1,858 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 3PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period with ESE 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 (Jul 03) at 3PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 9s. 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 Thursday (Jul 09) 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 2.0m 8s period and expected on Monday (Jul 06) at 3PM.
| Wave Type | Time (NZST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 3PM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 9PM (Tue 7th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 11s |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Blacks Reef over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here with the outlook for the Blacks Reef area. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, with a great start, a long sloppy middle, and a ripper finish.
Friday, July 3rd is the pick of the first week. We’ve got a 5ft swell from the ESE with a 12-second period, packing moderate energy. The morning is dead glass with a light offshore breeze. It’s clean, it’s lined up, it’s the best session on offer right now. Water temp is a touch chilly at 56°F, a bit colder than normal.
Saturday hangs in there with similar 5ft surf and clean conditions, though the wind is a little stronger.
Then it all goes pear-shaped. From Sunday, July 5th, the swell drops to near nothing, and we get a huge gap. For over a week, from the 5th through the 13th, it’s mostly onshore wind, rain, and chop. The swell size comes up, but with onshore winds and short periods, anything over 7ft is just a messy, blown-out wall. Kite surfers might love it, but for a traditional paddle, it's a miss.
The real standout comes on Tuesday, July 14th. A clean 6ft groundswell from the SSE, 11-second period, with light, cross-offshore wind. That’s a gorgeous setup, and it’s going to produce some real quality. It’s a long-range call, but it looks proper.
Thursday, July 16th afternoon is one for the experts. A strong 8ft ESE swell, very high energy (2149), and clean offshore winds. That’s a powerful, hollow wave that’s only for the experienced crew.
Expect crowds on any clean day at Blacks Reef.
The long dry spell runs from Sunday the 5th through Monday the 13th. That’s a solid week of no-go.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 7°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 28mm), heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue morning, strong winds from the SSW by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | E 11 | S 12 | S 16 | ESE 10 | E 10 | S 22 | S 20 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | E 11 | ESE 11 | S 13 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 589 | 628 | 672 | 541 | 467 | 3 | 5 | 170 | 237 | 9 | 31 | 128 | 477 | 468 | 657 | 875 | 1170 | 610 | 612 | 865 | 1566 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | off | off | glassy | off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | on |
High Tide | 8:17PM1.58m | 8:43AM1.46m | 9:00PM1.57m | 9:24AM1.48m | 9:44PM1.57m | 10:05AM1.50m | 10:30PM1.58m | 10:48AM1.53m | 11:16PM1.60m | 11:34AM1.57m | 00:04AM1.63m | 12:26PM1.63m | 00:54AM1.67m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:58PM0.39m | 2:37AM0.35m | 2:42PM0.37m | 3:19AM0.32m | 3:27PM0.35m | 4:02AM0.31m | 4:14PM0.35m | 4:46AM0.31m | 5:01PM0.35m | 5:32AM0.31m | 5:49PM0.35m | 6:18AM0.31m | 6:42PM0.36m | ||||||||
 | |  | | |  | | | |  |  |  |  | | | | |  |  |  |  | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — |
 | — | 4:57 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:58 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 4:59 | — | — | 5:00 | — | — | 5:00 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 22 | 9 | 5 | 7 |
Temp °C | 11 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
Feels °C | 10 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | ESE 12 | E 12 | ESE 12 | E 11 | S 12 | ENE 8 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ENE 10 | ENE 8 | ENE 9 | S 10 | S 10 | E 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | S 10 | ESE 10 |
| kJ | 589 | 628 | 672 | 541 | 467 | 3 | 280 | 170 | 237 | 407 | 350 | 289 | 477 | 468 | 657 | 875 | 1170 | 610 | 612 | 865 | 543 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 8 | S 14 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | NE 7 | S 15 | S 14 | S 20 | SSW 10 | E 10 | E 10 | S 10 | S 14 | S 9 | SSW 13 | S 9 | ESE 10 | S 19 |
| kJ | 47 | 24 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 36 | 5 | 4 | 31 | 128 | 223 | 271 | 449 | 107 | 110 | 56 | 380 | 490 | 184 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | S 16 | S 15 | N 11 | — | — | S 16 | — | N 10 | S 22 | S 8 | S 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 16 | S 14 | S 14 | NNE 8 | S 17 | S 17 | S 15 |
| kJ | 20 | 20 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 5 | — | 2 | 9 | 1 | 103 | 96 | 86 | 79 | 148 | 96 | 46 | 49 | 51 | 17 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | NNE 5 | ENE 11 | NE 7 | — | ENE 10 | NE 6 | NE 8 | — | — | SW 3 | — | S 10 | S 13 | S 6 | — | — | S 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 39 | 531 | 218 | — | 338 | 169 | 502 | — | — | 2 | — | 226 | 1127 | 171 | — | — | 1566 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 91 | 99 | 139 | 168 | 91 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Gisborne and Mahia | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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