Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 pm 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.1° 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 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, S swell with 4,122 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s 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 21) at 3AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 1.6m and 8s. 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 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 6PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore 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 23) at 12AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 3AM (Fri 21st Aug)3ft (0.9m) 17s
Best Surf 6PM (Mon 24th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s
Most Powerful 6PM (Mon 24th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s coming down the line for Blacks Reef.

We’ve got a pretty interesting run ahead. The water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 54°, which is a chilly 3° below average, so you’ll want a decent suit. The first few days are a slow burn, but there’s some serious grunt building for the end of the month and into September.

The opening on Thursday the 20th is a write-off. We’ve got a 6 ft south swell, but it’s short-period windswell at 8 seconds, and that 12 mph southerly is blowing straight onshore. It’s poor, with moderate wave energy (868) and messy. Don’t bother paddling out; just watch from the cliff.

The real action kicks off on Friday morning, August 21st. A proper south groundswell rolls in at 6 ft with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy jumps way up (1914), and with a light 3 mph northwesterly keeping it cross-offshore, it’s clean. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers. The swell is a bit over 5 ft, so beginners might find it a handful, but for anyone comfortable in that size, it’s a standout. The wind stays nearly as good on Friday afternoon with an easterly cross-off, and the swell holds at 6 ft with that same long period (1504 energy).

Saturday the 22nd sees the swell ease a bit to 4 ft, still a solid south groundswell at 12 seconds. The morning is clean with a cross-off northwest breeze, but the afternoon is the real treat. The wind drops to glassy, dead calm (345 energy). That’s clean surf, pure and simple, and a good option for the intermediate crowd. It’s a decent window, though the swell is dropping.

Things get small from Sunday the 23rd through the middle of the following week. There’s not much to get excited about—waist-high leftovers with onshore or cross-shore winds. A bit of a gap in the quality.

The next standout is no joke. On Sunday, August 30th, we see a massive pulse of south groundswell. It’s 13 ft in the morning with a 16-second period and a colossal combined energy of 7714. That is a serious, serious amount of water moving. The wind is light and offshore from the north, but this is way too big for anyone but expert-level surfers. It’s a true big-wave event. The afternoon holds at 12 ft with the same long period and an offshore breeze (5403 energy). If you’re not an expert, stay on the beach.

Following that, Monday, August 31st is still pumping. The morning has a 8 ft south swell with a 14-second period and offshore wind (2208 energy). That’s excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon is the headline act for the whole forecast: 10 ft of south swell at 16 seconds, light offshore from the NNE, and exceptional conditions for experts (5012 energy). This is the one to circle on the calendar, but it’s definitely for the big-wave crew only.

After that, the swell slowly winds down through the first days of September, with some lighter winds on offer, but the quality drops off as the period shortens and winds swing onshore. There’s a flash of clean, glassy conditions on Friday morning, September 4th, with a 7 ft south swell at 8 seconds (543 energy). It’s a short-period swell, so it might be a bit fat, but there’s energy there and zero wind.

Overall, the best bets for a decent paddle are the Friday and Saturday of the first week. For the experts, that last weekend of August into Monday is a no-brainer. Just be ready for heavy water.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 8°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Fri morning, fresh winds from the NW by Sun morning).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed morning, min 9°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Thu
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
4
4
3
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
3
3
2
2
2
2
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)
1.9
S
8
1.7
S
8
1.8
S
16
1.7
S
16
1.4
S
13
1.3
S
12
1.1
S
12
0.9
S
11
0.7
S
10
0.4
SE
13
0.4
SE
13
2.1
SSW
8
1.4
S
17
2.5
S
14
1.7
S
12
1.3
S
11
1
S
10
0.6
S
15
0.8
SSW
17
0.7
S
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
489
400
1672
1402
653
472
319
189
100
48
44
560
1116
2417
827
389
196
155
394
245
Wind (km/h)
20
SSW
5
W
5
NW
10
E
10
NNW
10
NW
5
W
25
NW
25
NW
20
NNW
20
W
20
SW
5
SE
15
NNW
5
WNW
10
E
15
NW
10
NW
10
SE
5
WNW
Wind State
on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
glassy
High Tide
11:48PM1.62m
12:14PM1.62m
00:35AM1.57m
1:06PM1.58m
1:22AM1.51m
1:56PM1.54m
2:10AM1.45m
2:43PM1.52m
2:58AM1.40m
3:28PM1.49m
3:46AM1.38m
4:13PM1.49m
Low Tide
5:41PM0.40m
6:03AM0.41m
6:30PM0.44m
6:49AM0.45m
7:20PM0.47m
7:35AM0.46m
8:10PM0.48m
8:23AM0.46m
8:57PM0.47m
9:11AM0.44m
9:43PM0.43m
10:00AM0.41m
10:29PM0.39m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:48
6:46
6:45
6:43
6:41
6:41
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:35
5:36
5:37
5:37
5:38
5:38
5:39
 mm
Temp °C
11
10
12
12
10
15
17
13
16
15
14
12
12
10
13
14
12
16
17
13
Feels °C
7
8
11
9
7
12
15
8
10
11
8
8
9
5
11
11
9
14
14
11
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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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