Blacks Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 39.07° S 177.80° E

Blacks Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 5 am 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Blacks Reef sea temperature is
12.1° C
1.9° 

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 25 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 2 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 9s period, S swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 2 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 10s period, S swell with 2,692 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 29 Jul, 12AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 13s period with SE 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 Wednesday (Jul 29) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Blacks Reef in the next 16 days are 3.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 02) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 31) at 6AM.

Wave TypeTime (NZST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)12AM (Wed 29th Jul)6.5ft (2.0m) 13s
Best Surf 6AM (Sun 2nd Aug)11ft (3.5m) 9s
Most Powerful12PM (Sun 2nd Aug)11ft (3.5m) 10s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, grab your board. Let’s look at what’s cooking.

Right now, it’s all pretty ordinary through the first few days. Starting Sunday July 26th we’ve got rain, cross-on winds, and messy conditions at Blacks Reef – there’s surf, but it’s not one you paddle out for in a hurry. The energy is weak at 1034 (combined energy) with a short-period swell of only 8 seconds. Water temperature is sitting at 54°F, which is a solid 3°F colder than usual for this time of year – that’s a noticeable chill, so plan on a thicker wetsuit.

Monday and Tuesday stay pretty average with onshore winds and sizeable but ragged waves. The combined energy jumps into the strong range on Tuesday – like 2070 – but with strong onshore winds and marginal quality, it’s more work than fun.

But look, Wednesday morning July 29th? That’s the standout. Clear skies, a light N wind at just 3 mph and cross-off conditions giving clean, lined-up surf. Swell is 6 ft from the SE with a solid 13-second period – proper groundswell with real punch. Combined energy is a moderately strong 1117. This reef handles it well, and the wind makes it glassy. For experienced surfers, this is the pick of the whole run. Expect crowds though – show up early.

Thursday the 30th stays clean with smaller waves around the 4 ft mark and offshore flow. Nice but not the big draw.

After that we drop right off into Friday and Saturday – small, weak, not worth wetting the suit unless you’re desperate.

Then it gets interesting again but farther out. Sunday August 9th and Monday August 10th see a cleaner south groundswell push with 7-7 ft waves – light offshore N winds at 3 mph on Sunday and Monday morning making them glassy. Periods around 10 seconds, combined energy moderate between 702 and 833. That’s a promising long-range call, but still a week and a half away so don’t lock plans just yet. Clean and punchy if it comes together.

One big note: there’s a spike in combined swell energy around 2595 on Sunday August 2nd, but that’s too big for Blacks Reef – 12 ft with onshore wind and short, attacky period. That’s expert-only territory if you’re a glutton for punishment.

Also, on Saturday August 1st afternoon, we get a glassy moment with 7 ft from the SSW but only a 6-second period – short, fat, dumpy. Not the good stuff.

The long-range window shows maybe one or two decent days after the 5th, but nothing that screams “drop everything”. Still, stick with Wednesday July 29th – that’s the real gem in this run.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Very mild (max 11°C on Tue morning, min 5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Mon morning, calm by Tue night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 9°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
4
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
1
0
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
8
1.2
ESE
14
1.2
ESE
13
1.4
SE
13
2.5
S
9
2.5
SSE
13
2.5
SE
13
2.3
SE
13
2
SE
13
1.9
SE
13
1.8
SE
12
1.6
ESE
12
1.3
ESE
12
1.2
ESE
11
1
ESE
11
0.9
ESE
11
0.8
ESE
11
0.5
SE
14
0.5
SE
14
2
SSW
6
2.5
SSW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
488
493
458
679
929
2356
1977
1834
1306
1077
933
680
449
323
247
204
135
95
103
309
1129
Wind (km/h)
20
SW
25
SSW
20
SW
25
WSW
30
SSW
20
SSW
20
SSW
15
SSW
5
SW
5
N
15
NE
10
NNW
15
NW
15
NW
15
N
20
NNE
15
NNW
15
NW
10
NNW
5
NE
10
S
Wind State
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
on
High Tide
3:22PM1.58m
3:37AM1.48m
4:08PM1.56m
4:23AM1.45m
4:53PM1.55m
5:09AM1.43m
5:37PM1.55m
5:56AM1.42m
6:22PM1.55m
6:43AM1.44m
7:06PM1.57m
7:30AM1.47m
7:50PM1.58m
Low Tide
9:04AM0.48m
9:37PM0.50m
9:53AM0.48m
10:23PM0.49m
10:40AM0.45m
11:08PM0.46m
11:24AM0.41m
11:53PM0.41m
12:05PM0.37m
00:38AM0.36m
12:47PM0.33m
1:23AM0.32m
1:30PM0.31m
2:07AM0.29m
rain showers
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
light rain
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:16
7:16
7:15
7:13
7:13
7:13
7:11
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:13
5:14
5:15
5:15
5:15
5:16
5:17
 mm
1
1
2
2
Temp °C
9
10
9
9
10
10
11
11
10
12
14
10
13
15
12
13
16
12
15
15
11
Feels °C
4
4
3
2
3
4
6
7
7
8
10
6
9
11
8
9
13
8
12
13
9
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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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